Women's Tennis Set to Host ITA Kick-Off Weekend

Jan. 28, 2010

Complete Tournament Notes (PDF)

Coral Gables, Fla. – For the second consecutive year, the University of Miami women’s tennis team will host the ITA Kick-Off Weekend taking place Jan. 30-31 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Admission to all matches is free.

Miami (1-0) welcomes participants Boston University, No. 62 College of Charleston and No. 68 Mississippi State to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. UM comes into the weekend ranked No. 7 in the latest Campbell’s/ITA poll, holding steady since the previous poll released in early January. The Hurricanes hold a combined 7-0 record against opponents this weekend. UM is 4-0 all-time against Mississippi State, and 3-0 against Boston University. If meeting over the weekend, it will be the first-ever match between the College of Charleston and Miami.

The Hurricanes open the weekend with Boston University on Sat., Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. The `Canes last faced off against the Terriers on May 12, 2006 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament [Coral Gables Regional]. Miami collected the win, 4-0. Miami last met Mississippi State on Feb. 8, 2002, defeating then-ranked No. 48 MSU, 6-1, in Coral Gables.

Miami is led by a trio of ranked players, including senior Laura Vallverdu who is currently ranked No. 7 in the ITA singles poll. She is followed by sophomore Gabriela Mejia (No. 93) and junior Bianca Eichkorn (No. 99). In doubles play, the tandem of Mejia and Vallverdu currently sits No. 3 in the nation, holding a record of 11-2 on the campaign.

Vallverdu, a three-time All-American for the `Canes, needs just one win to share the all-time UM singles wins record alongside Audrey Bañada (2003-07), owning a record 109-27 during her time in Coral Gables.

In its only other match of the spring season, Miami defeated Florida Atlantic, 7-0, on Jan. 23 in Coral Gables.

The opening match of the Coral Gables section of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend features the College of Charleston taking on Mississippi State on Sat., Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. The winners from Saturday’s matches will meet for the championship – and a trip to the Round of 16 in Madison, Wis. – on Sun., Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. The consolation match will be held at 10 a.m.

Last year, Miami defeated No. 47 Utah and No. 23 Tennessee as part of the inaugural ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Coral Gables. The `Canes went on to finish 2-1 at the Indoor Championships in Madison, Wis.

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.

About the ITA Kick-Off Weekend
The second annual ITA Men’s and Women’s Kick-Off Weekend will take place January 29 – February 1, 2010 at select campus host sites. This year’s Kick-Off Weekend Draft took place June 3-4 as teams selected which route they would take to get to the 2010 ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

The ITA Kick-Off Weekend features 15 men’s and 15 women’s host sites with four teams at each site vying to advance to the Team Indoor Championships. The 15 men’s teams to win both of their matches at these events will be invited to play in the Feb. 12-15 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Boar’s Head Sports Club (hosted by the Univ. of Virginia) while the 15 women’s teams to win both of their matches will be invited to play in the Feb. 12-15 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium (hosted by the Univ. of Wisconsin).

The No. 1 team at each site will face the No. 4 team. The No. 2 team will face the No. 3 team. Two matches are guaranteed – the winners/losers will play the following day.

For more information on the ITA Kick-Off Weekend and all events taking place throughout the second annual event, please visit www.itatennis.com.