Miami Women's Tennis Moves Into ACC Semifinals

DURHAM, N.C. – After a long day of waiting and a move indoors, the third-seeded University of Miami women’s tennis team defeated sixth-seeded Clemson, 4-1, Friday night inside the Sheffield Center on Duke University’s campus. The win moved the Hurricanes into the semifinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship where they will face second-seeded North Carolina Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Rain in the area Friday forced play indoors, moving action from the Cary Tennis Park facility to several indoor facilities in the area. The weather also forced a delay, pushing the start of Miami’s match back by three hours.

At the end of the day, the schedule changes didn’t have any effect on Miami moving on as the Canes comfortably beat the Tigers.

After waiting around for their chance to play, the Hurricanes (18-5) quickly jumped out on the Tigers (19-10), winning the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Danielle Mills and Brittany Dubins won a fast 8-2 match at No. 3 before a Top 5 battle at No. 1 went the way of the Hurricanes, as fifth-ranked Bianca Eichkorn and Anna Bartenstein pulled away from fourth-ranked Josipa Bek and Keri Wong for another 8-2 win.

“I think we did what we set out to do in terms of setting the tone early with doubles early on,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We started out real well, going up 4-1 at No. 2, we were up big at No. 1 and we were playing unbelievably at No. 3. I think coming out of the gates the way we did set the tone for the entire match.”

When singles got underway, Gabriela Mejia made quick work of Nelly Ciolkowski at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-2, to put the `Canes up 2-0, but Maria Belaya quickly pulled Clemson back to within one with a 6-1, 6-3 win moments later at No. 5.

That would be it for the Tigers, however, as Miami controlled the action the rest of the way.

Kayla Rizzolo turned in an impressive 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 4 over Klara Vyskocilova before 46th-ranked Anna Bartenstein clinched the win with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of 45th-ranked Keri Wong at No. 2.

“It was a huge match for us today considering it was the first round for us in the tournament,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We were getting our feet wet, they were coming off a match yesterday and I think we played really well. To pull in the points where we pulled in the points was big for us.

“So much of the year we are focused on that No. 1 spot and bringing in a point there,” Yaroshuk-Tews added. “Bianca played amazing doubles and solid singles, but for us to pull in the match without her point says a lot about the rest of the girls and how well the rest of the team is playing.

Melissa Bolivar was in line to win at No. 6 when the match was halted, as she led Caroline Magnusson, 6-4, 4-3 at No. 6. In the No. 1 position, seventh-ranked Bianca Eichkorn and 10th-ranked Josipa Bek were locked in a tight battle as Bek won the first set 7-5, while Eichkorn was leading the second, 3-2, when play was stopped.

“I’m really happy with the way Rizzolo played and how she stepped up and took care of business at her position in a tight match,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She played well from beginning to end.”

“All in all I was real happy with the way the girls played.”

For additional coverage of the UM women’s tennis team, visit TheUTennis.com.

2011 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 21-24; Cary Tennis Park
Cary, NC.

Saturday, April 23
Semifinals
10 a.m. – No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 Florida State
1 p.m. – No. 3 Miami vs. No. 2 North Carolina

Sunday, April 24
Finals
11 a.m. – Championship match