Eichkorn Leads a Group of Four `Canes Heading to California
Sept. 30, 2010
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Senior Bianca Eichkorn has been waiting years for this opportunity. Playing behind one of the sport’s elite student-athletes the last few years, Eichkorn has mostly flown under the radar.
That all changes over the next 10 days as Eichkorn will lead a group of four Hurricanes at college tennis’ biggest fall event – the 2010 ITA/Riviera All-American Championships that begin Saturday at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
“I think that we’ve got a group that really respects this tournament,” head coach Yaroshuk-Tews said. “It is the most prestigious fall tournament at a beautiful site with the best players in the country. Our girls have a real sense of appreciation for this event and because of that, I know they’ll be prepared.”
Yaroshuk-Tews has coached over a dozen All-America players to this elite fall event since taking over the women’s tennis program in 2001. Eichkorn, a native of Tengen, Germany and one of just five players in school history with 100 career singles wins, is the next in line among Hurricane greats.
“I think that Bianca can go deep into this tournament if she goes out, plays her game and takes it one player at a time,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She has proven herself as one of the best players in the country and there is definitely no one more prepared than she is.”
With the graduation of the program’s winningest player Laura Vallverdu this past spring, Eichkorn enters the 2010-11 season as the team’s only senior and unquestioned leader on the court for the University of Miami women’s tennis team. But it’s not a far stretch to say that it’s a spot she is not only prepared for, but is welcoming.
“I am really excited about my role as a leader of this team,” Eichkorn said. “All of the hard work over the last three years has me where I am today and it’s a role I embrace. That said, my attitude and approach on the court is the same as it was when I was a freshman.”
Eichkorn will lead a group of talented `Canes that went undefeated last weekend at Miami Fall Invitational – the fall season’s opening tournament. Juniors Anna Bartenstein and Gabriela Mejia and freshman Kayla Rizzolo will join Eichkorn this week playing against the nation’s best in California. Those four, along with sophomore Danielle Mills and freshman Bistra Otashlyska, combined to go 15-0 at UM’s individual round-robin style tournament last weekend at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Mejia – the longest-tenured `Cane behind Eichkorn – knows what it will take to not only have a successful week at the Riviera Club, but further the team’s development and preparation for the 2011 season.
“It’s a great chance to get used to pressure situations that you are going to see in the spring,” Mejia said. “We are going to go there, fight, compete and take our chances. That is the good thing about this tournament – we’ll be facing the kind of opponents that will get you prepared for the spring.”
Mejia and Rizzolo will be the first `Canes to compete in the tournament as pre-qualifying play begins Saturday at UCLA. Bartenstein, a transfer from Tulane a year ago and one of UM’s best, will begin qualifying play on Tuesday at Riviera.
But eventually it will come down to Eichkorn, who will stay in Coral Gables over the weekend before heading west next week as the tournament’s Main Draw, which won’t begin until Thursday, Oct. 7.
“This tournament comes down to who is the most prepared and who wants it the most,” Eichkorn said. “From the first to the last match, I know we will be ready for that challenge.”
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OTHER WOMEN’S TENNIS NOTES
– In addition to all four student-athletes competing in singles play at the ITA All-American Championships, Bianca Eichkorn and Anna Bartenstein will participate as a doubles team in the main draw bracket while Gabriela Mejia and Kayla Rizzolo will open the tournament together in the qualifying bracket.
– The Hurricanes won 20 of 21 matches at last weekend’s Miami Fall Invitational against opponents from Michigan, USF and UCF, going 15-0 in singles play and 5-1 in doubles.
– Senior Bianca Eichkorn is 100-22 all-time as a singles player at Miami. She is one of five women’s tennis student-athletes to reach the 100-win mark in a career at Miami, joining Laura Vallverdu (131), Audrey Banada (110), Ronnie Reis (103), Lise Gregory (102) and Jodi Appelbaum (101).
– Four Hurricanes are currently ranked nationally by the ITA. In singles play, Bianca Eichkorn is ranked 14th, Anna Bartenstein is ranked 53rd and Gabriela Mejia is ranked 83rd. In doubles action, Eichkorn and Bartenstein are ranked 16th, while Mejia and sophomore Danielle Mills are ranked No. 17.
– Fourth-year assistant Jeff Thomsen was named associate head women’s tennis coach on Wednesday.
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The 2010 ITA/Riviera All-American Championships will run from Oct. 2-10, beginning at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in Los Angeles (prequalifying) and later at the Riviera Tennis Club (qualifying/main draw) in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Visit www.HurricaneSports.com throughout the tournament to follow the `Canes progress at the event.
