Women's Tennis Closes Day Two at Michigan Invitational
Jan. 17, 2010
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The No. 7 University of Miami women’s tennis team played six singles matches on Sunday, splitting the matches with No. 24 University of Washington on the second day of the Michigan Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Courts in Ann Arbor, Mich.
After having a stellar opening day of singles play on Saturday against No. 11 Tennessee, the Hurricanes looked to continue the trend on Sunday against the Huskies out of the Pac-10. However, Washington proved to be a worthy foe for Miami in exciting tennis action.
Washington’s Venise Chan – ranked No. 11 in the Campbell’s/ITA singles poll, went to a three-set decision with Miami’s No. 7 Laura Vallverdu at the top flight singles position. Chan escaped Vallverdu with a 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) decision in a tie-break decider. In the setback, Vallverdu dropped her record to 11-6 on the year.
Washington’s No. 3 Denise Dy defeated UM’s Bianca Eichkorn – ranked No. 99 nationally – in a tough 7-5, 6-3 decision at second flight singles. Eichkorn falls to an even 4-4 on the season.
Miami got things rolling at the No. 3 spot with sophomore Anna Bartenstein taking a 6-1, 6-1 triumph from the Huskies’ Lina Xu. That was followed up by freshman Danielle Mills collecting a 6-1, 6-1 victory from Vanja Radunovic at the six singles spot.
Bartenstein improved her record to 9-2, while Mills evened her record at 5-5.
Meanwhile, it was No. 93 Gabriela Mejia collecting a hard-fought 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 decision over Washington’s Aleksandra Malovic at No. 4 singles.
`Canes senior Claudia Wasilewski fell in her match at the No. 5 spot on a 6-3, 7-6 line to Samantha Smith.
In doubles play, a rematch from the ITA Indoor Championships semifinals occurred at the top flight doubles spot with Miami’s duo of Vallverdu and Mejia – ranked No. 3, took on the No. 1 ranked team of Tennessee’s Caitlin Whoriskey and Natalie Pluskota.
Tennessee’s Whoriskey and Pluskota proved too much for UM’s duo as they took an 8-2 victory.
Bartenstein and Eichkorn combined at No. 2 doubles for a win over the Vols’ Rosalia Alda and Zsofia Zubor, 8-3. And it was Mills and Wasilewski combining for a win at third doubles against Katie Lee and Maria Sorbello, 8-3.
Miami will continue action at the Michigan Invitational on Monday, finishing the three-day event with doubles play against Washington, followed by singles play against Michigan.
Live stats and a video scoreboard feature for this weekend’s event are accessible by visiting http://www.mgoblue.com/livestats/m-tennis/indoor-outdoor.html.
The Hurricanes will finish individual play on Sunday 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
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
