Canes Back on Track With Convincing Win Against Virginia

April 13, 2012

CORAL GABLES Fla.- On senior day at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, Anna Bartenstein, Gabriela Mejia and the rest of the 9th-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team took on 15th-ranked University of Virginia. Miami defeated the Cavaliers 6-1.

The weather conditions made it a difficult day for tennis, but the Hurricanes No. 2 doubles team of Gabriela Mejia and Lina Lilekite got off to a quick start, upsetting Virginia’s 60th-ranked Vierra/Tomlijanovic combination. UVA battled back at No. 1 doubles as 12th- ranked Liat Zimmerman and Melissa Bolivar fell to No. 32 Hardenbergh/Fraser 8-5, but the Bartenstein/Dubins duo was able to solidify the doubles point for the Hurricanes with an 8-5 victory of their own.

Singles was just underway when the rain started coming down, and it would be several hours before the two teams resumed play.

Now under the lights, Miami continued to chip away at the Cavaliers with 61st-ranked Lilekite taking the first victory at the No. 3 position 6-0, 6-3. Bolivar then advanced the lead to 3-0 after besting Caryssa Peretz 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5.

It is only fitting that Bartenstein would eventually be the one to deliver the match’s deciding fourth point beating No. 19 Emily Fraser 6-4, 6-3, on a night where she was recognized for her many achievements and contributions as a Hurricane.

With the match in hand, Mejia stormed back after losing the first set 6-1, to win the second set 7-5 and come out on top 10-3 in the tiebreak. Virginia earned its only point of the day as Zimmerman lost momentum after the first set, surrendering the second and third sets to Erin Vierra.

Brittany Dubins rounded things out at No. 6 singles with a hard-earned 7-5, 7-6 victory over Maria Fuccillo.

The Canes will be back on the courts this Sunday against Virginia Tech. The match is set to begin at noon.

ORDER OF FINISH

Doubles

2, 1, 3

Singles

3, 5, 2, 1, 4, 6