No. 6 Miami Returns to the Courts After Long Layoff
TheUTennis.com l ITA Rankings l ACC Women’s Tennis I Miami Tennis Midseason Report
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The sixth-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team will return to the courts this weekend after a 12-day layoff when the Hurricanes travel to No. 17 Virginia and Virginia Tech for a pair of ACC road matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Back in Action
With Miami’s last match coming back on March 14 at Baylor, the Hurricanes have had plenty of time to not only rest, but begin preparing for the final month of the regular season which begins this weekend in Virginia.
The `Canes (11-4, 3-1 ACC), who entered the 2011 season ranked 12th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, have moved up to sixth nationally after defeating 10 Top 25 teams in their first 15 matches this spring.
“We are playing well,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We are fresh now and we understand the importance of this weekend, starting Saturday at Virginia.”
ACC Race Heating Up
Miami currently sits in third place behind Duke (13-2, 2-0) and North Carolina (13-3, 2-0) in the ACC standings.
Virginia (13-3, 2-1 ACC) sits a half a match back of the `Canes, setting up one of the most important matches of the season for both teams.
The ACC Tournament, held from April 21-24 in Cary, N.C., features all 12 teams with the top four seeds earning a first round bye.
Virginia Tech (9-7, 1-2 ACC), who will host Florida State on Saturday before welcoming the `Canes on Sunday, is currently in a six-way tie for sixth in the conference.
Return to Charlottesville
This weekend will mark Miami’s second trip to Charlottesville in just over a month, as the Hurricanes participated in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Board’s Head Sports Club from Feb. 18-20.
Saturday’s match was originally scheduled to be played outdoors at the Snyder Tennis Center but is expected to be moved indoors to Boar’s Head due to weather.
Miami is 11-3 all-time against Virginia and is riding a four-match winning streak over the Cavs dating back to 2007. Over that time, Miami holds a 26-to-2 advantage in the series, winning 7-0 last year, 6-1 in 2009, 6-1 in 2008 and 7-0 in 2007.
The Cavaliers, who are led by 55th-ranked Emily Fraser in the No. 1 position, have wins over Virginia Tech and Boston College and a loss to Maryland in ACC play.
“Virginia has always been a very aggressive team that plays an aggressive style of tennis,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We are prepared for them to jump on short balls and move forward, even more so with the match being inside.
“Ultimately, this match will come down to who makes the first move and who goes after shots first.”
Then Off to Blacksburg
Following Saturday’s match in Charlottesville, the `Canes will make the two-and-a-half hour trip to Blacksburg, where they will take on the Hokies on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.
Miami has never lost to the Hokies, owning a 12-0 advantage in the series heading into the weekend. The `Canes last trip to Blacksburg came in 2008, when UM edged out Virginia Tech for a 4-3 win.
