Ninth-Ranked W. Tennis to Open Season at FAU

CORALGABLES, Fla.  – The University of Miami women’s tennis teamwill open its 2013 season on Friday when it travels to FAU in a 1:30 p.m. matchat Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton.

The Hurricanes enter the spring ranked No. 9nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and are led by threestuden’t-athletes currently ranked in the nation’s Top 100 in singles play,freshman Kelsey Laurente (51), junior Lina Lileikite (57) and freshmanStephanie Wagner (92).

Laurente, Lileikite and Wagner will be joinedin the lineup by juniors Melissa Bolivar and Brittany Dubins and freshmanMonique Albuquerque and Deborah Suarez.

“I’m excited to see our team compete as aunit,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Our players are striking the ballwell. We’re ready to go!”

Last year, Miami went 21-5 and advanced tothe NCAA Elite Eight for the fourth consecutive season. The 20-win seasonmarked the Hurricanes’ eighth in the last nine seasons under the direction ofYaroshuk-Tews.

FAU capped last season with 10-8 record,advancing to the Sun Belt Tournament quarterfinals.

The Canes first home match of the season willbe against No. 24 Illinois on Sunday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.