UM's Vallverdu Advances in ITA Southeast Regional

Oct. 24, 2009

Results | Updated Miami Results | Complete Updated Singles/Doubles Bracket

Atlanta, Ga. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team continued strong play Saturday at the Wilson/ITA Southeast Region Championships with senior Laura Vallverdu advancing to the quarterfinals in singles action, as well as in doubles alongside partner Gabriela Mejia. The event is taking place at the Bill Moore Tennis Center on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta running through Oct. 26.

Vallverdu, the No. 2 overall seed for the tournament and sixth-ranked in the nation, collected two wins in singles play Saturday in order to march on to the quarterfinals. She began the day with a 6-1, 6-2 straight-set defeat of Georgia’s Naoko Ueshima, and closed her singles session with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph against Florida State’s Francesca Segarelli.

Vallverdu next faces Claire Bartlett of Florida on Sunday.

In doubles play, Vallverdu advanced with partner Gabriela Mejia to the quarterfinals as the two picked up an 8-4 win over FSU’s pair of Jessica Sucupira and Noemie Scharle. Vallverdu and Mejia face FIU’s team of Brito and Castillo, ranked 23rd nationally, on Sunday.

Other singles action taking place Saturday for the `Canes included sophomore Anna Bartenstein going 1-1 on the day. She defeated Georgia Tech’s Viet Ha Ngo (7-6, 6-1) before falling in the Round of 16 to No. 43 Nadja Gilchrist of Georgia (6-4, 3-6, 6-3). Bartenstein suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 on the year.

Freshman Danielle Mills fell in her Round of 32 match against FSU’s Noemie Scharle–ranked No. 23, in a thrilling three-set affair on a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 line. Senior Claudia Wasilewski also fell short in the Round of 32 with a 6-1, 6-3 setback at the hands of USF’s Melissa Koning.

Amy Sargeant of FSU was able to hold off Miami’s Mejia in the Round of 32, pulling together a 6-4, 6-2 win. Mejia falls to 4-1 on the campaign following her first loss.

Junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn, seeded third for the tournament and 21st-ranked in the nation, went 1-1 on the day by collecting a 6-1, 6-0 win over Stetson’s Jen Miller, before falling in the Round of 16 to FSU’s 93rd-ranked Lauren McCreless, 7-5, 6-3.

Action at the Wilson/ITA Southeast Region Championships continues tomorrow with the singles and doubles quarterfinals matches.

The “A” flight singles and doubles winners, along with the singles finalist, will advance to the ITA National Indoor Championships in November held at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. The elite event, slated for Nov. 5-8, is the second collegiate grand slam event of the season. Winners and finalists from the various ITA Regional Championships around the country plus at-large selections will make up the singles field of 32 and the 16-team doubles draw.

For more information and results from the Wilson/ITA Southeast Region Championships, please click here.

For more information on University of Miami Women’s Tennis, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. After browsing to the women’s tennis home page, you will find the latest news, stats and match notes pertaining to the Hurricanes Women’s Tennis program.

Wilson/ITA Southeast Regional Championship (Day Two)

Singles (Main Draw)
Round of 32
Anna Bartenstein (Miami) def. Viet Ha Ngo (Georgia Tech) … 7-6, 6-1
No. 24 Noemie Scharle (Florida State) def. Danielle Mills (Miami) … 2-6, 6-3, 7-6
Melissa Koning (USF) def. Claudia Wasilewski (Miami) … 6-1, 6-3
Amy Sargeant (Florida State) def. Gabriela Mejia (Miami) … 6-4, 6-2
No. 21 Bianca Eichkorn (Miami) def. Jen Miller (Stetson) … 6-1, 6-0
No. 6 Laura Vallverdu (Miami) def. Naoko Ueshima (Georgia) … 6-1, 6-2

Round of 16
No. 43 Nadja Gilchrist (Georgia) def. Anna Bartenstein (Miami) … 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
No. 93 Lauren McCreless (Florida State) def. No. 21 Bianca Eichkorn (Miami) … 7-5, 6-3
No. 6 Laura Vallverdu (Miami) def. Francesca Segarelli (Florida State) … 6-1, 6-1

Doubles (Main Draw)
Round of 16
Mejia/Vallverdu (Miami) def. Sucupira/Scharle (Florida State) … 8-4