Miami Puts Three on All-ACC Women's Tennis Team
April 22, 2010
Greensboro, N.C. – Senior Laura Vallverdu made her fourth appearance to the All-ACC Women’s Tennis Team, while junior Bianca Eichkorn made it back-to-back and sophomore Anna Bartenstein made her debut to the team, as announced by Commissioner John Swofford on Thursday morning.
Vallverdu, a three-time All-American for the `Canes, made her fourth consecutive appearance to the All-ACC Team after registering a record of 9-2 against league opponents this season. The Valencia, Venezuela native is currently ranked No. 8 in the Campbell/ITA singles poll after turning in a record of 29-10 on the year, and is 17-4 in the spring. Vallverdu is Miami’s all-time leader in singles wins (125), while she ranks fourth in UM history in all-time doubles victories (99). In 2009, Vallverdu advanced to the championship match of the NCAA Singles Championships in College Station, Texas.
Also named to this year’s All-ACC Team is junior Bianca Eichkorn, ranked No. 31 nationally in the Campbell/ITA singles poll. For Eichkorn, a 2009 ITA All-American, this is her second straight appearance to the All-conference team. Eichkorn is currently the only Hurricanes student-athlete unbeaten in the spring, sporting a 20-0 record entering Friday’s opening match for UM in the ACC Women’s Tennis Championships in Cary, N.C. The Tengen, Germany native is currently enjoying a 21-match winning streak dating back to Jan. 18, when collecting a victory on the final day of competition at the Michigan Invitational. Overall, Eichkorn holds a record of 25-4 on the 2009-10 campaign, while finishing the ACC season at a perfect 11-0.
The third and final Hurricanes student-athlete named to the All-ACC Team is sophomore transfer Anna Bartenstein, ranked No. 87 in the Campbell/ITA singles poll. Since transferring to UM from Tulane last summer, Bartenstein has turned in a record of 28-5, holding the second-highest amount of wins on this year’s roster. In the spring, she is 18-3, while she completed her first ACC season with a record of 9-2.
All three UM performers are ranked in the Campbell/ITA doubles poll, Vallverdu teaming with sophomore Gabriela Mejia for a No. 7 ranking in this week’s poll. Together, the duo has laid claim to seven consecutive wins at the No. 1 spot with a record of 21-5 overall (10-3 dual). Eichkorn and Bartenstein are ranked No. 37 this week, finishing the regular season with a record of 15-3 (11-1 dual). They have also won seven straight entering Friday.
The Hurricanes open the 2010 ACC Women’s Tennis Championships as the No. 2 seed, and will face the winner of the No. 7 Georgia Tech and No. 10 Virginia Tech match on Fri., Apr. 23, at Noon. The event is taking place at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C.
Georgia Tech’s Irina Falconi was selected ACC Player of the Year. Freshman of the Year honors went to Francesca Segarelli of Florida State. Meanwhile, the ACC Coach of the Year was awarded to North Carolina’s Brian Kalbas.
For more information on the ACC Women’s Tennis Championships, please log on to www.theacc.com. The official tournament website can be accessed by clicking here. Once there, you will find live updates for all matches, a complete release from the ACC Office, as well as agate schedule/results.
2010 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Team
Josipa Bek, Sophomore, Clemson*
Ina Hadziselimovic, Senior, Clemson
Keri Wong, Sophomore, Clemson
Ella Nze, Junior, Duke**
Elizabeth Plotkin, Senior, Duke
Reka Zsilinszka, Junior, Duke**
Lauren McCreless, Senior, Florida State**
Katie Rybakova, Junior, Florida State**
Irina Falconi, Sophomore, Georgia Tech*
Anna Bartenstein, Sophomore, Miami
Bianca Eichkorn, Junior, Miami*
Laura Vallverdu, Senior, Miami***
Sanaz Marand, Senior, North Carolina**
Katrina Tsang, Senior, North Carolina***
Sandhya Nagaraj, Sophomore, NC State
Lindsey Hardenbergh, Sophomore, Virginia
Sasha Kulikova, Senior, Wake Forest**
Martina Pavelec, Sophomore, Wake Forest
Player of the Year – Irina Falconi, Georgia Tech
Freshman of the Year – Francesca Segarelli, Florida State
Coach of the Year – Brian Kalbas, North Carolina
* – Repeat All-ACC Selection
** – Three-time honoree
*** – Four-time honoree
