`Canes Ready For Demanding Road Ahead
March 1, 2011
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Having already faced seven ranked opponents in its first nine matches, you would think the University of Miami women’s tennis team is due for a break in the schedule.
Not the case at all.
The eighth-ranked Hurricanes are set to embark on a two-week journey that will put them up against six straight ranked opponents, five of whom are currently ranked in the Top 15.
The difficult stretch starts with a home match against No. 5 Michigan on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Two days later, the `Canes will pack their bags for a weekend trip to the Southeast where they will face No. 15 Georgia Tech on Saturday and No. 12 Clemson on Sunday.
That’s three matches against top-of-the-line opponents in five days. But wait, there’s more. No. 5 North Carolina, No. 52 TCU and No. 7 Baylor await the `Canes next week.
If you’re counting along, the `Canes are about to play five of the Top 15 teams in the country over the 14 days.
“We need to have short memories,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Regardless of what happens the next two weeks, we to stay within ourselves because we are playing great tennis right now.”
Miami will enter tomorrow’s match 7-2 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, with five of its wins already coming against ranked opponents – including convincing victories over No. 11 Tennessee and No. 15 Florida State.
What has already been done – combined with the arduous road ahead – is ultimately part of a bigger plan according to Yaroshuk-Tews.
“We are playing great opponents and it is only going to make us better as a program,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We set these difficult out-of-conference matches to get us ready for ACC and NCAA play. We have to keep our eye on the prize.”
The prize comes a few months down the road in Palo Alto, Calif. at the NCAA Sweet 16, a place the `Canes have been five straight seasons.
First thing is first, however. The `Canes have a match on Wednesday that has all their attention today.
“Our girls are prepared and our girls are ready,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We’re excited to play Michigan. They are a great program and it should be a big time match tomorrow.”
Admission to the match against Michigan (9-1) is free to the public and UM students. Free barbeque will also be served to fans on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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A few other notes around the women’s tennis program….
Rankings Will Update Later Tuesday
Updated team, singles and doubles rankings are expected to be announced later today by the ITA. The Hurricanes have moved up four spots in the polls since the start of the season, going from No. 12 in early January to No. 8 in last week’s poll. In singles play, All-America senior Bianca Eichkorn improved to 7-1 at the No. 1 position this week. She currently holds a No. 10 national ranking. She is joined by Anna Bartenstein (63) and Gabriela Mejia (115) the last singles rankings released on Feb. 14. In doubles, Eichkorn and Bartenstein are currently ranked 42nd.
Last Time Out
For the first time all season, Miami played four freshmen in its singles line-up in its 7-0 win over UCF on Sunday. Melissa Bolivar, Kayla Rizzolo, Brittany Dubins and Bistra Otashliyska lined up for the `Canes in positions three-through-six, with all four picking up straight set wins.
“That is a part of being a great team,” Yaroshuk-Tews said after the match. “We were able to rest a couple players and everyone stepped up and played well. Everyone on this roster will be relied upon at some point this season.”
`Canes at Home
Miami is 6-0 at home this spring and hold a combined advantage of 36-to-6 in wins over No. 15 Florida State (6-1), No. 21 Arizona State (4-3), No. 54 FIU twice (5-2; 7-0), FAU and UCF at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Following Wednesday’s match against Michigan, the `Canes will host UNC (March 9), Wake Forest (April 1), NC State (April 3) and Duke (April 15) to wrap up their regular season home slate.
