Wagner Advances to Regional Quarterfinals
ATHENS, Ga. –The Hurricanes continued play at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship on Saturday, picking up three wins on the day. Stephanie Wagner won her third consecutive singles match to advance to Sunday’s quarterfinals.
Miami’s Clementina Riobueno and Monique Albuquerque were victorious in their round of 16 matchup. The Hurricanes’ 27th-ranked doubles duo beat Florida State’s Daneika Borthwick and Kerrie Cartwright by a score of 8-6.
Also in the round of 16 doubles, Hurricanes Brittany Dubins and Stephanie Wagner came up with a big win, defeating Florida’s Brianna Morgan and Sofie Oyen 8-7.
“Brittany and Stephanie took a huge step in doubles today,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “They were relentless from beginning to end against two great teams— although we came up a tiebreaker short in the quarters—they grew as a team.”
Coming up on the wrong end of a round of 16 doubles match were Kelsey Laurente and Melissa Bolivar. The pair of Canes was defeated by Florida’s Olivia Janowicz and Stefani Stojic by a score of 8-2.
After advancing to the doubles quarterfinals, Wagner and Dubins then dropped a tough match 8-7 in a tiebreaker against 26th-ranked Kendal Woodard and Megan Kurey of Georgia Tech.
In the Hurricanes’ second doubles quarterfinals match, Albuquerque and Riobueno were defeated by Georgia’s No. 50 Lauren Herring and Maho Kowase 8-3.
After advancing four players to the singles round of 16 yesterday, the Hurricanes struggled against some stiff competition and difficult playing conditions.
No. 52 Wagner picked up Miami’s lone singles win, defeating Florida’s Stefani Stojic in two sets 6-0, 6-4.
Riobueno, ranked 69th in singles, was taken down by Florida’s No. 38 Alex Cercone. Cerone edged out Riobueno in the first set 6-4 and took the second set 6-3.
Albuquerque faced a tough test in her round of 16 opponent, going against Florida’s No. 16 Sofie Oyen. Albuquerque was defeated in two sets 6-1, 6-0.
In the Hurricanes’ final round of 16 match, Lina Lileikite was defeated by Georgia’s No. 60 Silvia Garcia in two sets 7-1 and in a 7-6 tiebreaker.
“We had some tough results in singles indoors in quicker conditions,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Our opponents simply outplayed us at certain spots. This level of tennis will only help us in the long run.”
On Sunday the Hurricanes will get back on the courts for singles beginning at 10 a.m.
RESULTS
Doubles (Round of 16)
Wagner/Dubins def/ Morgan/Oyen (UF) 8-7
Riobueno/Albuquerque def. Borthwick/Cartwright (FSU) 8-6
Stojic/Janowicz (UF) def. Laurente/Bolivar (UM), 8-2
Doubles (Quarterfinals)
Woodard/Kurey (GT) def. Wagner/Dubins (UM), 8-7(1)
Herring/Kowase (UGA) def. Riobueno/Albuquerque (UM), 8-3
Singles (Round of 16)
Stephanie Wagner (UM) def. Stefani Stojic (UF), 6-0, 6-4
Alex Cercone (UF) def. Clementina Riobueno (UM), 6-4, 6-3
Silvia Garcia (UGA) def. Lina Lileikite (UM), 6-1, 7-6(3)
Sofie Oyen (UF) def. Monique Albuquerque (UM), 6-1, 6-0
