Two Canes Advancing In Singles Draw at Duke Fab-4 Invite
CARY, N.C.- First round singles victories by seniors Anna Bartenstein and Gabriela Mejia highlighted play for the Hurricanes Friday on the first day of action at the Duke Fab-4 Invite at the Cary Tennis Center.
On the opening day of Miami’s fall season, Bartenstein and Mejia made quick work of their first round opponents in both singles and doubles, playing in cool, overcast conditions.
“It was a good day overall,” assistant coach Alex Santos said. “It’s always difficult coming back after such a long time off, but we stayed focused, competed hard and for the most part, played our game. Our goal is to increase that level of intensity as we move through the tournament.”
Bartenstein took care of business against Illinois’ Amy Allin, coming away with a 6-3, 6-2 win, while Mejia cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win over North Carolina’s Haley Hemm. Both seniors have now moved into in Saturday’s quarterfinal round, where Bartenstein will play UNC’s Lauren McHale and Mejia will take on Rachael White from Illinois.
If either or both advance, the semifinal round will be held later on Saturday.
“I was impressed by Mejia’s performance today,” Santos said. “She came out strong and played a high quality of tennis. If she continues to play the way she did today, she is in line for great season.”
In doubles, Bartenstein and Mejia opened up with an 8-5 win over William & Mary’s Kayla Rizzolo and Katie Kargl, but dropped their semifinal match to Cierra Gayton-Leach and Noel Scott of Texas, 8-4.
UM’s other doubles tandem of Melissa Bolivar and Brittany Dubins was also victorious in their first round match, taking down Lynda Xepoleas and Daniela Vidal of Purdue, 9-8 (7-2).They did, however, also fall in the second round to Mary Clayton and Ester Goldfeld of Duke, 8-5.
Bolivar and Dubins unfortunately weren’t as successful as their teammates in first round singles play, as Bolivar dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Noel Scott of Texas while Dubins fell to 20th-ranked Nazari Urbina (Texas A&M), 6-1, 6-2.
Both will be competing in the singles consolation bracket on Saturday, where Bolivar will meet UNC’s Laura Slater and Dubins will face Caroline Rohde-Moe of Ole Miss.
Singles matches are slated to get underway at 10 a.m. Saturday, with semifinals expected to follow at 1 p.m. Times are subject to change as inclement weather is expected in the area.
“We’re looking forward to tomorrow,” Santos said. “Today was a start, but we have two more days ahead of us.”
