11th-Ranked W. Tennis to Face No. 25 FSU
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The 11th-ranked University ofMiami women’s tennis team will resume its spring schedule on Saturday with itsconference opener, hosting 25th-ranked FSU at the Neil Schiff TennisCenter at 11 a.m.
The Hurricanes (6-2) were last in action at the ITA NationalWomen’s Team Indoor Championships. After a 4-2 win over 17th-rankedNebraska, the Canes fell to No. 2 UCLA and No. 14 Northwestern by the samescore.
Though suffering two tough losses, Miami saw extremelystrong performances from several freshmen. Stephanie Wagner walked away withsingles victories against players from both Northwestern and Nebraska, and losta heartbreaker against a player from UCLA, dropping two straight sets that wentinto tiebreakers. She and partner Lina Lileikite (nationally ranked #42 as aduo) also helped the Canes win the doubles point against UCLA, defeating theNo. 16 doubles team in the nation and dealing the Bruins their first lostdoubles point of the season.
Classmate Clementina Riobueno continued her great start onthe court with singles victories in each of the three matches she played duringthe weekend. Teaming with Monique Albuquerque, the duo didn’t finish theirmatch against Northwestern but defeated both opponents from UCLA and Nebraska.Riobueno improved to 8-0 in dual matches this season.
FSU is having a solid season, putting together a 6-1 recordand cracking the Top 25 for the first time since Feb. 22, 2012. The Seminoles’only loss this season came at the hands of 19th-ranked Baylor. In theirmost recent match against Georgia State, the Noles won the doubles point andfour singles matches to down the Panthers, 5-2. Seniors Francesca Segarelli andAmy Sargeant have each won nine consecutive singles matches, becoming the firstFSU pair to do so since 1999.
In last year’s meeting between the two teams, Miami came outon top with a 5-2 victory.
The first 50 fans through the gates at the Neil SchiffTennis Center will be given Sebatian the Ibis sunglasses and picture withSebastian the Ibis himself.
