Women's Tennis Opens NCAA Tournament Against Boston University
May 13, 2010
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The No. 11 University of Miami women’s tennis team is set to host its sixth consecutive regional this weekend, meeting Boston University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament [Coral Gables Regional] at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Fri., May 14, at 1 p.m.
Miami enters Friday’s match holding a record of 17-5, while Boston University counters with an even record of 11-11. This is the second meeting of the year between the Hurricanes and Terriers, as Miami took a 7-0 decision from the Terriers on Jan. 30, as part of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Coral Gables. Friday’s match will also serve as the second meeting between the two schools in the NCAA Tournament, as UM picked up a 4-0 triumph from BU in the opening match of the 2006 Coral Gables Regional.
The Hurricanes have advanced to the “Sweet 16” in each of the last four seasons under head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. In 2006, Miami advanced to the NCAA Finals, before falling to Stanford.
UM has four players ranked in the latest Campbell/ITA singles poll, using four-time All-ACC member, and three-time All-American Laura Vallverdu at the top position. Vallverdu, Miami’s all-time wins leader with 125 career singles victories, is No. 7 in this week’s poll. All-American junior Bianca Eichkorn is ranked No. 40 in the poll, as she enters the tournament working on a team-best 22-match win streak dating back to January. On the year, Eichkorn is 26-4, and holds a record of 21-0 in the spring.
Also ranked for Miami are sophomores Anna Bartenstein (No. 84) and Gabriela Mejia (No. 113). Mejia has collected a record of 26-4 overall on the year, while posting a record of 20-2 in the spring. Meanwhile, Bartenstein has produced a record of 28-6 overall, and sits with an 18-4 mark in the spring. She ended her first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) season with a 9-2 record.
In doubles play, Miami’s team of Vallverdu and Mejia is ranked No. 6 in the Campbell/ITA doubles poll, bringing a record of 22-5 (11-3 in the spring) into the tournament. Together, they have collected eight consecutive wins at the No. 1 doubles spot, and are currently 9-1 in their last 10 matches together on the court.
Boston University will look towards a duo of players to contend for the Coral Gables Regional title, including America East Player of the Year, Stefani Nunic. For Nunic, the honor is her second consecutive after earning two victories against nationally-ranked players and winning the top singles spot in the league final to lead Boston University to its 12th-straight NCAA berth. Nunic posted a 13-5 singles record in the spring, including wins against ranked players from Brown and Yale. At one point, she went on an eight-match win streak. Last season, Nunic became the first player in America East Conference history to win both Player and Rookie of the Year accolades. Also playing well for the Terriers is Jessi Linero, one of the Terriers top position players, and Gulliver Prep alum from Key Biscayne, Fla.
Miami is 117-30 in their singles matches this year, including a commanding 45-11 performance in the `Canes last nine matches–six of those coming against nationally ranked competition. The Hurricanes have dropped just seven singles matches on the campaign at the No. 1 through No. 3 positions on the court.
The opening match of the Coral Gables Regional will feature Texas A&M against USF at 10 a.m. The Aggies are visiting Coral Gables for the first time, after serving as host of the 2009 NCAA Tennis Championships where the `Canes enjoyed success in reaching the quarterfinals. In addition, Vallverdu advanced to the singles championship match. If successful against Boston University, Miami will take on the winner of the Texas A&M and USF match on Sat., May 15, at 2 p.m.
USF defeated Texas A&M, 4-3, earlier in the year in a match played in Tampa, Fla.
For complete Coral Gables Regional coverage and up-to-date scores/news, please visit the official Coral Gables Regional home page by clicking here. All matches are taking place at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Miami, with ticket prices set at just $5.
