Seventh-Ranked Miami Downs Boston, 7-0
Jan. 30, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – Senior Laura Vallverdu tied the all-time singles wins record in University of Miami women’s tennis history on Saturday, as the No. 7 Hurricanes (2-0) earned a 7-0 decision over Boston University (0-3) in the opening round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend [Coral Gables region] at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami took the first doubles match by virtue of a forfeit at the No. 3 position with no one competing for Boston. The Hurricanes then used a dominating performance from the team of Anna Bartenstein and Bianca Eichkorn to claim an 8-2 decision at the No. 2 spot, clinching the doubles point right away. The UM duo defeated BU’s Jessi Linero and Petra Santini.
The `Canes collected the doubles sweep with the No. 3 ranked duo of Gabriela Mejia and Laura Vallverdu using an 8-2 line against Boston’s Monika Mical and Francine Whu at the top flight position.
In singles play, UM opened with a 2-0 advantage in the match when senior Claudia Wasilewski collected a forfeit win by default with no opponent at the No. 6 spot for BU.
Sophomore Gabriela Mejia (No. 93) was first off the court in actual play, taking a 6-1, 6-1 decision from BU’s Inayat Khosla at the fifth position. For Mejia, she runs her record to 8-2 on the year, and has won her last four matches dating back to the Michigan Invitational.
Junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn (No. 99) clinched the match point for the Hurricanes when she turned in a 6-1, 6-1 decision over Boston’s Petra Santini at the No. 3 position. Eichkorn improves to 7-4 on the year, and has now won her last three matches.
Three-time senior All-American Laura Vallverdu, ranked No. 7 in the country, walked off the court next after staking a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Francine Whu at the top flight singles spot.
For Vallverdu, today’s victory allowed her to tie Audrey Bañada (2003-07) for the all-time singles wins record in UM history. Vallverdu now owns a career record of 110-27 at UM. In addition, Vallverdu owns a team-leading record of 14-6 on the 2009-10 season, winning eight of her last 10 matches – including her last three consecutive.
Miami’s lead increased to 6-0 in the match after freshman Danielle Mills claimed her second consecutive singles win with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over BU’s Monika Mical at the No. 4 position. Mills ups her record to 7-6 on the year, and has won six of her last 10 matches in the process.
The `Canes closed out their second straight 7-0 sweep of an opponent when sophomore Anna Bartenstein tallied a 6-2, 6-2 win at the second spot, defeating Jessi Linero. Bartenstein moves to 12-2 on the season, and has now won six matches in a row.
Miami will now take on No. 57 Mississippi State in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend [Coral Gables region] championship match. The Bulldogs of MSU defeated No. 73 College of Charleston in the opening match of today’s ITA qualifier, 5-2.
The championship match between Miami and Mississippi State will take place at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Sun., Jan. 31, beginning at 2 p.m. The consolation match between Boston and the College of Charleston will begin at 10 a.m. Admission to both matches is free.
For more information on the ITA Kick-Off Weekend and all events taking place throughout the second annual event, 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.
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.
#7 Miami 7, Boston 0
Singles
1. #7 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Francine Whu (BU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Anna Bartenstein (UM) def. Jessi Linero (BU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #99 Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. Petra Santini (BU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Danielle Mills (UM) def. Monika Mical (BU) 6-3, 6-2
5. #93 Gabriela Mejia (UM) def. Inayat Khosla (BU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. No player (BU), by default
Order of finish: 3,2*,1
Doubles
1. #3 Gabriela Mejia/Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Monika Mical/Francine Whu (BU) 8-2
2. Anna Bartenstein/Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. Jessi Linero/Petra Santini (BU) 8-3
3. Claudia Wasilewski/Danielle Mills (UM) def. No player/No player (BU), by default
Order of finish: 6,5,3*,1,4,2
