W. Tennis Crushes No. 22 Notre Dame, 6-1
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes women’s tennis team picked up their second ACC of the weekend on Saturday, defeating 22nd-ranked Notre Dame 6-1.
“I’m really happy with Stephanie Wagner and Kelsey Laurente lately,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “They have stepped up in taking on more of a leadership role, being really vocal and understanding what they really need to do for every match.”
Miami took control of the match from the very beginning, jetting out to leads in each of the three doubles matches. Once the leads were made, the Hurricanes didn’t let up. Within moments of each other, all three of the doubles matches went in favor of Miami.
With the first doubles victory of the day, Stephanie Wagner and Brittany Dubins handed Mary Closs and Julie Sabacinski an 8-5 loss.
11th-ranked Clementina Riobueno and Monique Albuquerque were second to finish, clinching the doubles point for the Hurricanes. Quinn Gleason and Britney Sanders couldn’t handle Miami’s offensive potency, as the Hurricanes’ one-doubles team soundly beat the 27th-ranked team from Notre Dame.
Miami’s Kelsey Laurente and Melissa Bolivar handily took control of Notre Dame’s tandem of Jennifer Kellner and Monica Robinson. The 8-2 match in favor of Miami ended just moments after the Hurricanes notched the doubles point.
Miami continued to ride the momentum from doubles into singles, with five of six singles matches starting off with a first-set win for the Hurricanes.
Riobueno, who’s played very sound tennis the past two matches, was the first to complete her victory, crushing Notre Dame’s Kellner 6-1, 6-0.
“Clementina did an amazing job Friday and Sunday,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She was very thorough— she played every point with intensity with discipline.”
Next to finish was Albuquerque, who finished off Notre Dame’s Closs in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
“I’m really happy with Monique at number five today,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Really solid pep in her step and that’s how she has to play tennis. She’s a great player and she needs to always go out there and show her opponents how great she is.”
45th-ranked Wagner collected her 7th victory of the season with a straight sets win against Sanders. Wagner put away the Irish’ No. 119 player 6-3, 6-3. Also winning in straight sets by a score of 6-3, 6-3 was the senior Bolivar, who prevailed against Notre Dame’s Julie Vrabel.
Lastly, Miami’s 33rd-ranked Laurente put away Gleason with ease 6-4, 6-2 to mark the sixth win of the afternoon for the Hurricanes.
Miami’s Lina Lileikite came up short against Notre Dame’s Monica Robinson, falling in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Lileikite’s spring season record moves to 5-5.
The Hurricanes get back to action on Friday, Feb. 28 when Boston College comes to down for a dual match beginning at 12 p.m.
For more updates throughout the season, follow @HurricaneTennis on Twitter.
Singles Competition
1. #45 Stephanie Wagner (UM) def. #119 Britney Sanders (ND) 6-3, 6-3
2. #33 Kelsey Laurente (UM) def. #99 Quinn Gleason (ND) 6-4, 6-2
3. Clementina Riobueno (UM) def. Jennifer Kellner (ND) 6-1, 6-0
4. #105 Monica Robinson (ND) def. Lina Lileikite (UM) 6-2, 6-4
5. #113 Monique Albuquerque (UM) def. Mary Closs (ND) 6-2, 6-1
6. Melissa Bolivar (UM) def. Julie Vrabel (ND) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. #11 Monique Albuquerque/Clementina Riobueno (UM) def. Quinn Gleason/Britney Sanders (ND) 8-4
2. Kelsey Laurente/Melissa Bolivar (UM) def. Jennifer Kellner/Monica Robinson (ND) 8-2
3. Stephanie Wagner/Brittany Dubins (UM) def. Mary Closs/Julie Sabacinski (ND) 8-5
