No. 11 Women's Tennis Handles No. 13 Georgia Tech, 5-2

March 24, 2010

Results | Complete Results (PDF)

Coral Gables, Fla. – The No. 11 University of Miami women’s tennis team took the doubles point, and walked away with four singles matches, in order to take down No. 13 Georgia Tech, 5-2, on Wednesday afternoon in ACC action at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews entered the match having never beaten Georgia Tech – the only team in the ACC she had yet to taste victory against. That all changed on Wednesday, as the Hurricanes used a much-needed doubles point, as well as a come-from-behind singles point, to collect the 5-2 decision. In the process, Miami broke a nine-match skid to the Yellow Jackets dating back to 2000.

“The girls came out and played great doubles, and that really set the tone early-on in the match,” stated UM head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “We’ve been teaching them that they have to keep the attitude and effort there for each match, and it really has been, and especially was today.”

Miami (10-3, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) began the day by claiming the all-important doubles point with two-of-three positions. The Hurricanes’ team of Gabriela Mejia and Danielle Mills opened the doubles session with an 8-4 defeat of Georgia Tech’s Sasha Krupina and Hillary Davis at the second position. The win for Mejia and Mills allowed them to stay perfect together on the year, raising their record to 5-0 overall.

Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-2 ACC) bounced back at the No. 3 position, as Viet Ha Ngo and Elizabeth Kilborn teamed for an 8-4 win over Miami’s Anna Bartenstein and Claudia Wasilewski. However, UM was able to walk away with the doubles point at the No. 1 position when the Hurricanes duo of Bianca Eichkorn and Laura Vallverdu turned in an 8-1 victory over GT’s Irina Falconi and Lynn Blau. The victory for Eichkorn and Vallverdu was their fourth of the year, raising their record to 4-1 overall.

“We’ve been mixing it up quite a bit at the doubles positions, and the girls have been open to the changes we’ve been making as a coaching staff,” said Yaroshuk-Tews. “They’re adapting to the changes, and believing in what we see when looking at the opponents’ lineups before a match.”

In singles play, UM junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn (No. 33) was first off the courts after turning in a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Georgia Tech’s Sasha Krupina (No. 86) at the No. 2 spot. Eichkorn kept her spring record clean at 13-0, while improving to 18-4 overall on the year. She also remained perfect in ACC play at 4-0.

The Hurricanes lead swelled to 3-0 when Miami sophomore Anna Bartenstein (No. 62) collected a 6-3, 6-0 win at the No. 3 position, defeating Viet Ha Ngo. Bartenstein’s win allowed her to move to 21-4 overall (11-2 dual), and put her at 3-1 in the ACC.

The Yellow Jackets cut into the lead, 3-1, when Lynn Blau took a 6-4, 6-1 win over `Canes freshman Danielle Mills at the No. 4 spot. For Mills, the loss was her second consecutive in the ACC, but she remains above .500 on the year at 13-10 overall.

Miami clinched the match at the No. 6 position, where senior Claudia Wasilewski walked off the courts with a 6-0, 6-3 defeat of the Yellow Jackets’ Hillary Davis. For Wasilewski, the win stretched her current win streak out to five matches, while upping her season record at 15-9 overall (8-4 dual).

In the much-anticipated match at the No. 1 singles position between Georgia Tech’s Irina Falconi, ranked No. 1 in the nation, and Miami’s senior Laura Vallverdu – ranked No. 7 in the country, Falconi came away with a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court one. The loss for Vallverdu was her first in the ACC since 2009, and snapped her seven-match winning streak. She still stands at 22-9 overall (10-3 dual), holding the most wins on this year’s roster thus far.

The final match came at the No. 5 position, where Miami’s Gabriela Mejia (No. 107) and Georgia Tech’s Elizabeth Kilborn went three sets. Mejia used a come-from-behind 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) victory to close-out the 5-2 team victory for the Hurricanes. Mejia has now won seven straight matches at the No. 5 position, and improves to 18-3 overall on the year (12-1 dual). She remains perfect in the ACC at 4-0.

The Hurricanes return to action Fri., Mar. 26, when they welcome ACC opponent Virginia Tech to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., and admission is free.

“Our goal this season has been to emphasize having short memories, both in wins and losses,” said Yaroshuk-Tews. “We have to have a short memory in order to be successful. We want to enjoy this win, but we know we have to get back to work tomorrow and prepare for a good Virginia Tech team on Friday.”

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.

No. 11 Miami 5, No. 13 Georgia Tech 2

Singles
1. #1 Irina Falconi (GT) def. #7 Laura Vallverdu (UM) 6-4, 6-4
2. #33 Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. #86 Sasha Krupina (GT) 6-2, 6-1
3. #62 Anna Bartenstein (UM) def. Viet Ha Ngo (GT) 6-3, 6-0
4. Lynn Blau (GT) def. Danielle Mills (UM) 6-4, 6-1
5. #107 Gabriela Mejia (UM) def. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. Hillary Davis (GT) 6-0, 6-3
Order of Finish: (2, 3, 4, 6*, 1, 5)

Doubles
1. Bianca Eichkorn/Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Irina Falconi/Lynn Blau (GT) 8-1
2. Gabriela Mejia/Danielle Mills (UM) def. Sasha Krupina/Hillary Davis (GT) 8-4
3. Viet Ha Ngo/Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. Anna Bartenstein/Claudia Wasilewski (UM) 8-4
Order of Finish: (2, 3, 1*)