Canes Cruise to Victory Over No. 22 Florida State

Feb. 26, 2012

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 14 University of Miami women’s tennis team continued their impressive start to the season on Sunday with a 5-2 win over in-state rival No. 22 Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla.

After capturing two key wins at the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va., the Canes (5-1) had two weeks off getting ready for their conference opener. The layoff paid dividends for the Canes, who took the doubles point and wins in four singles matches to earn their first ACC win of the 2012 season.

“I think the girls really used the time off to their advantage with rest and preparation,” Head Coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “FSU is an aggressive, feisty team. We were very happy with how the girls came out and set the tempo today.”

Miami got on the board early by capturing the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Melissa Bolivar and Liat Zimmerman, in their new slot as the No. 1 doubles combination, took down
Mia Vriens and Amy Sargeant to clinch the point with an 8-6 victory.

“We had thought about moving them [Melissa and Liat] into the lead spot for a few days now,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “To throw a freshman and a sophomore at No. 1 is a big move. But they’ve been communicating great, and the fact that they’re both lefties throws a lot of teams off.”

It was freshman Lina Lileikite and senior Gabriela Mejia who got the Canes started on the right foot, however, with an 8-3 victory over Ruth Seaborne and Leyla Erken. Anna Bartenstein and Brittany Dubins fought but could not get the Canes the sweep, as they fell 8-6 at the No. 2 position.

The team’s two seniors made quick work of their competitors to open up play, as Bartenstein beat Francesca Segarelli (6-1, 6-1) and Mejia took down Erkan (6-0, 6-4) in dominating fashion.

“They set the tone,” Yaroshuk-Tews said of the team’s senior duo. “It was huge for them to come out and play the way that they did. The two of them are playing such solid tennis right now, and it’s amazing to have them as leaders.”

With the Canes sporting a commanding 3-1 lead after four matches, Melissa Bolivar added to the Canes total with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Carolina De Los Santos. And, as she has time and time again this season, it was freshman Lina Lileikite who played well beyond her years to clinch the match for Miami (8-6, 5-7, 12-10).

“FSU is a tough, tough team,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “And playing indoors is not what we’re used to. For us to leave Tallahassee with the win says a lot about this team.”