Miami Women's Tennis Begins Season Ranked Seventh
Jan. 5, 2010
Skillman, N.J. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team will start the 2010 spring season ranked seventh in the opening Campbell’s/ITA college tennis poll, released Tuesday evening by the ITA office in Skillman, N.J.
The Hurricanes return five of their six starting position players from last season, including three-time All-America senior Laura Vallverdu. The Hurricanes advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas a season ago, finishing the 2009 campaign ranked seventh in the final poll.
“It’s great to start off the season in the top 10 in the nation, but we have a long season ahead of us,” stated UM head women’s coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “If this team stays healthy and plays up to its potential, then I think it can be a very special season for us.”
Vallverdu, a native of Valencia, Venezuela, begins the year ranked No. 7 in the singles poll. She spent the entire fall campaign ranked No. 6, and brings a record of 10-5 into the spring. Along the way, Vallverdu claimed the 2009 ITA Indoor Singles Championship in New Haven, Conn.
Alongside Vallverdu is doubles partner sophomore Gabriela Mejia. The pair will enter the spring ranked No. 3 in the doubles poll. They played together for the first time collegiately during the fall, picking up a record of 9-1 – advancing to the semifinals of the ITA National Indoor Championships.
Including Vallverdu, Miami returns a trio of All-Americans to the spring roster – with juniors Bianca Eichkorn and Julia Cohen also stepping onto the court. Eichkorn spent much of the fall season returning from surgery, but appears to be in prime condition for the spring. And Cohen did not compete during the fall slate.
Miami begins the 2010 season January 16-18 traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., competing in the Michigan Invitational. The `Canes will open up the home schedule on Jan. 23 against south Florida competitor Florida Atlantic.
For a complete list of this year’s opening poll from the ITA, please visit www.itatennis.com.
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.
