No. 7 Miami Ends First Day at Michigan Invitational
Jan. 16, 2010
Michigan Invite – Day One Results (PDF) 
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Seventh-ranked University of Miami enjoyed a stellar opening day at the Michigan Invitational on Saturday, with the Hurricanes women’s tennis team taking four-of-six singles positions against 11th-ranked Tennessee at the Varsity Tennis Courts in Ann Arbor, Mich.
With the `Canes playing their final individual tournament before embarking into the dual spring campaign, Saturday’s action helped Miami get back to the courts since the last fall event at the FSU Seminole Classic in November.
Miami’s three-time All-American Laura Vallverdu (Valencia, Venezuela) – ranked No. 7 in the Campbell’s/ITA singles poll, collected a 6-1, 6-4 victory from Tennessee’s top singles player, No. 6 Caitlin Whoriskey. Vallverdu registered her 107th career win at UM, and needs just four more to become the school’s all-time singles leader in career wins.
The match between the two top 10 opponents was played at the flight one singles spot, with Vallverdu earning her 11th victory of the 2009-10 season for the `Canes.
It was sophomore transfer Anna Bartenstein (Graz, Austria) taking a win at the No. 2 singles position, fighting past the Volunteers’ Maria Sorbello – ranked No. 51 in the nation. Bartenstein pulled the straight-set win on a 6-3, 6-2 line. In the process, she moved her record to 8-2 on the campaign.
Junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn (Tengen, Germany), ranked No. 99 in the Campbell’s/ITA singles poll, upped her record to 4-3 on the year courtesy a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Natalie Pluskota. Meanwhile, senior Claudia Wasilewski (Boulogne, France) continues to play inspired tennis for Miami, pulling a 7-6, 6-0 defeat of Tennessee’s Katie Lee at the six singles spot on the court.
Wasilewski is now 7-3 on the season.
Sophomore Gabriela Mejia (Cali, Colombia) was stopped in a great match at the four singles spot, falling to the Vols’ Rosalia Alda – 6-4, 6-3. And it was freshman Danielle Mills (Bradenton, Fla.) falling in five singles, 7-6, 6-1, to Zsofia Zubor.
In doubles play, Miami’s third-ranked doubles tandem of Vallverdu and Mejia claimed an 8-4 win from host Michigan’s Whitney Taney and Tania Mahtani at the top flight position.
Together, Mejia and Vallverdu are 10-1 on the season.
Bartenstein and Eichkorn fell in a close match at the second spot, 9-7, to Michigan’s team of Denise Muresan and Rika Tatsuno. And it was Mills and Wasilewski falling, 8-4, to the Wolverines’ Mimi Nguyen and Michelle Sulahian at the third spot in doubles play.
Action at the Michigan Invitational continues Sunday with singles play for the `Canes starting at 10 a.m. (CST) against opponents from Washington. The doubles matches for Miami will take part against Tennessee. Those matches are slated to begin immediately following the final singles match between the `Canes and Huskies.
The Michigan Invitational features each team playing three rounds of doubles and three rounds of singles. There will be eight flights in singles and four flights in doubles. Each day will consist of eight doubles matches and 16 singles matches. The third set will be played to completion in singles. Points will be allotted for each win based on the following decreasing point value to determine the champion (singles and doubles) at the end of the weekend.
The scoring for the individual and doubles champion will be decided through the following system:
Win at No. 1 position — 8 points
Win at No. 2 position — 7 points
Win at No. 3 position — 6 points
Win at No. 4 position — 5 points
Win at No. 5 position — 4 points
Win at No. 6 position — 3 points
Win at No. 7 position — 2 points
Win at No. 8 position — 1 point
Live stats and a video scoreboard feature for this weekend’s event will be accessible by visiting http://www.mgoblue.com/livestats/m-tennis/indoor-outdoor.html.
This weekend, the Hurricanes will finish individual play before hosting their first dual team event of the 2010 slate against Florida Atlantic at home on Jan. 23. The match against the Owls will take place at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center at noon.
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.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Sunday, Jan. 17
10 a.m. Singles — Miami vs. Washington
1 p.m. Doubles — Michigan vs. Washington, Miami vs. Tennessee
Singles to follow — Michigan vs. Tennessee
Monday, Jan. 18
10 a.m. Singles — Tennessee vs. Washington
12 p.m. Doubles — Michigan vs. Tennessee, Miami vs. Washington
Singles to follow — Michigan vs. Miami
