Wagner & Lileikite Defeat No. 17 Doubles Team
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – After day one of qualifying matches, Miami’s doubles pairing of junior Stephanie Wagner and senior Lina Lileikite is one match closer to advancing to the main draw at the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships.
Wagner and Lileikite defeated No. 17 doubles team Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell of Vanderbilt. Despite losing the first set 4-6, the pair of veterans rallied for the victory, first winning the second set, 6-3. In a closely contested third set, Wagner and Lileikite were able to muscle their way to a 14-12 win in the 10-point tie breaker.
Wagner and Lileikite will advance to the main draw with two more wins in qualifying.
In singles qualifying, No. 71 Lileikite fell to ACC foe and No. 23 Romy Kolzner of Clemson. Lileikite was able to extend the first set into a tie-break, but came up short, falling to Kolzer 7-6(7), 6-3.
Assistant coach Laura Vallverdu was encouraged by Lileikite’s performance and was sure the loss would not impact her play in doubles.
“Lina had a good day of tennis yesterday, she is one of our strongest kids physically so I have no doubt that their doubles play won’t be hurt,” Vallverdu said. “We prepare them for tournaments like this. Lina and Steffi belong in the main draw of this tournament by the way they are coming together as a team and winning points with such heart.”
Wagner and Lileikite continue their doubles matches this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. ET, facing the New Mexico duo of Dominique Dulski and Natasha Smith.
No. 18 Wagner, who will open singles play when the main draw opens Thursday, will find out her first singles opponent Wednesday afternoon.
Miami’s third-ranked doubles team Monique Albuquerque and Clementina Riobueno begin their doubles action Thursday as well. Their opponents have not yet been announced.
Vallverdu is excited to see what Albuquerque and Riobueno can accomplish in California, and has high expectations for the nationally-ranked duo.
“I’m happy to see our top doubles team arrive in Los Angeles, they seem energetic and very poised to start play Thursday,” Vallverdu explained. “They have the ability to go far in this tournament. They have chemistry as a team and Monique is playing like a true veteran.”
For updates and more information on the Hurricanes’ matches at the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships, follow @HurricaneTennis on Twitter.
RESULTS
Stephanie Wagner (UM) and Lina Lileikite (UM) def.Courtney Colton (VAN) and Sydney Campbell (VAN), 4-6, 6-3, 14-12.
Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Lina Lileikite (UM), 7-6(7), 6-3.
