No. 7 Miami Blanks FAU in Season-Opener, 7-0
Jan. 23, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – No. 7 Miami took the doubles point and earned straight-set wins across singles play to sweep visiting Florida Atlantic, 7-0, on Sat., Jan. 23, in the UM season-opener of women’s tennis action at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (1-0) started the day slow early-on with the doubles tandem of Danielle Mills and Laura Vallverdu sitting tied with FAU’s Justine Humair and Cassie Bergeson, 4-4. But the `Canes tandem pushed out to a 6-4 lead en route to the 8-6 decision at the top flight doubles position over the FAU (0-2) duo.
The No. 3 doubles team of Claudia Wasilewski and Anna Bartenstein had little trouble fending off FAU’s team of Natalia Totevska and Dominique Wimmer, scoring the 8-1 victory. However, the doubles point was clinched at the No. 2 spot with UM’s Bianca Eichkorn and Gabriela Mejia teaming for the first time in nine months, collecting an 8-4 win from Natasha Basma and Erika Mrazkova.
In singles play, Miami used straight-set wins on all courts to post the second consecutive 7-0 victory over the Owls in as many years.
Miami junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn, ranked No. 99 in the country, walked off the courts first courtesy her 6-0, 6-0 sweep of FAU’s Wimmer, at the No. 3 spot. That was immediately followed by three-time All-American and seventh-ranked Laura Vallverdu turning in a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Humair at the top flight position.
Miami’s Mills clinched the match point for the `Canes with a 6-1, 6-0 win over the Owls’ Bergeson at the fourth position.
Sophomore Bartenstein, playing in her spring debut for UM after transferring just under a year ago from Tulane University, posted her first dual win as a Hurricane, recording a 6-0, 6-1 defeat of Totevska on the No. 2 court.
Miami’s lead extended to a 6-0 margin when sophomore Mejia closed out a 6-0, 6-1 win over Mrazkova at the five spot. And it was senior Wasilewski starting her final year in Orange and Green with a 1-0 record, scoring a 6-3, 6-2 decision from Basma on court No. 6.
Miami is now 27-0 all-time against FAU, and head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews keeps her season-opening record clean at a perfect 9-0 at the helm in Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes return to the court next weekend, Jan. 30-31, when they play host for the second annual ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. UM welcomes teams from Boston University, College of Charleston and Mississippi State for a two-day event filled with women’s tennis action. Tickets may be purchased at the gate for just $5. For more information on the event, please visit www.itatennis.com.
Fans in attendance for today’s women’s tennis match, as well as those following online, are encouraged to come back for the nightcap of a Saturday UM tennis doubleheader as the men’s team will host Stetson at 6 p.m. Admission to that match is free.
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.
#7 Miami 7, Florida Atlantic 0
Singles competition
1. #7 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Humair, Justine (FAU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Anna Bartenstein (UM) def. Totevska, Natalia (FAU) 6-0, 6-2
3. #99 Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. Wimmer, Dominique (FAU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Danielle Mills (UM) def. Bergeson, Cassie (FAU) 6-1, 6-0
5. #93 Gabriela Mejia (UM) def. Mrazkova, Erika (FAU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. Basma, Natasha (FAU) 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 3,1,4*,2,5,6
Doubles competition
1. Mills/Vallverdu (UM) def. Humair/Bergeson (FAU) 8-6
2. Eichkorn/Mejia (UM) def. Basma/Mrazkova (FAU) 8-4
3. Bartenstein/Wasilewski (UM) def. Totevska/Wimmer (FAU) 8-1
Order of finish: 3,2*,1
