No. 5 Miami Makes Quick Work of No. 50 Wake Forest

CORAL GABLES, Fla. –In its first home match in nearly a month, the fifth-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team eased past No. 50 Wake Forest, 6-1, Friday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

With the win, the Hurricanes improved to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in ACC play.

“Anytime you can beat an ACC team 6-1 it is a good day,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “I am happy with the way we competed. We really took care of business out there.”

Miami jumped out to an early 1-0 lead claiming the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Brittany Dubins and Danielle Mills picked up a quick 8-2 win at three before the 11th-ranked tandem of Bianca Eichkorn and Anna Bartenstein put the ‘Canes up with an 8-5 victory in the top spot.

After a doubles wins No. 1 and No. 3, Bartenstein put the ‘Canes up 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 win in the second doubles position over Emilee Malvehy.

Then came a win by Dubins at No. 6 followed by another by Gabriela Mejia at No. 4 just minutes later. Dubins cruised past Brigita Bercyte, 6-1, 6-0, before Mejia downed Ryann Cutillo, 6-1, 6-1 to clinch the match.

With the match in hand, Eichkorn – who is currently ranked eighth by the ITA – improved to 7-0 in ACC play with a 6-1, 6-1 win over 24th-ranked Martina Pavelec before  Melissa Bolivar won 6-1, 2-6, 10-5 at No. 5.

The last match of the day came down to the third court, where 109th-ranked Kayla Rizzolo lost a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 decision to Kayla Duncan.

“We played handily and efficiently today,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “It was unfortunate that Kayla’s match didn’t come down to a full third set because she definitely had momentum going her way.”

The loss dropped Wake Forest to 6-10 overall and 0-6 in ACC play.

The Hurricanes will return to action on Sunday when they host No. 36 NC State at noon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Admission is free to the public and students.