Rizzolo Wins it for the `Canes in Charlottesville
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Freshman Kayla Rizzolo came through in a big way for the sixth-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team on Saturday, winning a three-set match at No. 4 to give the Hurricanes a 4-3 win over No. 17 Virginia at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
Miami (12-4, 4-1 ACC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Virginia (13-4, 2-2), but the Cavaliers rallied to win the next three points, setting up the deciding match at No. 5.
Rizzolo, playing in just her third match this Spring, was up to the challenge. The 85th-ranked freshman recorded a come-from-behind 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory over 80th-ranked Erin Vierra to clinch the match for the `Canes.
“I’m so proud of Kayla’s performance today,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She played with poise, stood her ground and played like an upperclassman. She really stepped up for us.”
The win was the Hurricanes’ 11th against a Top 25 opponent this season.
Miami got off the on the right foot winning the doubles point over the Cavaliers with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
Then, sixth-ranked Bianca Eichkorn remained undefeated against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 55th-ranked Emily Fraser in the No. 1 singles position. The win for Eichkorn improved her record to 25-6 overall, 14-2 in dual match play and 5-0 in ACC matches in the Hurricanes’ top singles spot.
Melissa Bolivar followed Eichkorn’s win with a victory of her own in a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Marjorie Baker in the No. 6 position, putitng the `Canes ahead 3-0.
UVa’s first point of the afternoon came at No. 5 where Caryssa Peretz took down Danielle Mills, 6-3, 6-1.
Then it was 71st-ranked Lindsey Hardenbergh taking down 39th-ranked Anna Bartenstein, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1 at No. 2 and 96th-ranked Hana Tomljanovic beating Gabriela Meja, 7-6, 0-6, 6-3 at No. 4.
Then came Rizzolo’s big win at No. 5.
To open the match, Eichkorn and Bartenstein won 8-2 in the top doubles spot while Brittany Dubins and Mills prevailing, 8-4, at No. 3 to put the `Canes up 1-0.
“We competed our tails off today,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “It was a great team performance capped off by a big win by Kayla.”
Miami will return to action on Sunday when it travels to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech at noon.
For additional coverage on the UM women’s tennis team, visit TheUTennis.com.
No. 6 Miami 4, No. 17 Virginia 3
Singles
No. 1 (6) Bianca Eichkorn def. (55) Emily Fraser, 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 (71) Lindsey Hardenbergh def. (39) Anna Bartenstein, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1
No. 3 (96) Hana Tomljanovic def. Gabriela Mejia, 7-6, 0-6, 6-3
No. 4 (85) Kayla Rizzolo def. (80) Erin Vierra, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 Caryssa Peretz def. Danielle Mills, 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 Melissa Bolivar def. Marjorie Baker, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 (13) Eichkorn/Bartenstein def. (20) Fraser/Tomljanovic, 8-2
No. 2 (72) Hardenbergh/Vierra def. Bolivar/Mejia, 8-5
No. 3 Dubins/Mills def. (47) Fuccillo/Teltumbde, 8-4
Order of Finish
Singles – 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, 4
Doubles – 1, 2, 3
