No. 11 Hurricanes Drop Indoors Opener to No. 7 Cal

Feb. 11, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The No. 11 Miami Hurricanes (2-1) fell to the No. 7 California Golden Bears 4-0 in the first round of the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championships on Friday in Charlottesville, Va.

The Canes, who maintained the same lineup that earned them an Indoors berth with two victories during Kick-Off Weekend, were bested by a Golden Bears team sporting five singles players ranked in the Top-100 nationwide.

The third doubles combination of senior Gabriela Mejia and freshman Lina Lileikite won their match 8-5 early on, but the first two Hurricanes doubles teams fell short in giving up the match’s first point.

The Golden Bears earned their second point of the day when Cecilia Estlander took down Hurricanes’ sophomore Brittany Dubins at No. 6 singles (6-1, 6-1). Sophomore Melissa Bolivar, facing stiff competition in No. 81 Annie Goransson, would be the next to fall short (6-1, 6-4), giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead.

The Hurricanes would fight back, however, as Lileikite took her first set against No. 32 Tayler Davis 7-5. But when freshman Liat Zimmerman fell to No. 74 Anett Schutting (6-2, 6-2), the day’s action was sealed with a 4-0 win for the Golden Bears.

Seniors Anna Bartenstein (No. 15) and Mejia, along with Lileikite’s match against Davis, were not completed due to the 4-0 sweep.

Next, the Hurricanes will take on No. 14 Texas, who fell to No. 6 Georgia 4-2 in their first round action on Friday afternoon.