Women's Tennis Heads to Atlanta for Regionals
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team began preparations for the ITA Southeast Regionals this week at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Round one kicks off this Friday in Atlanta, Ga., at 8:00 a.m. Players will be competing as individuals for an opportunity to play at the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in New York.
The Indoor Championships begin Nov. 6.
Last weekend, only the team’s freshmen traveled to Jacksonville to take part in the Bedford Cup. Miami’s rookies shined at the tournament, especially Sinead Lohan, who came away with the singles title and won the doubles championship alongside Wendy Zhang.
Lohan and her fellow freshmen’s performance at Bedford proved to head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews that the newcomers are prepared for the challenge that awaits them at Regionals.
“Sinead Lohan has shown that she can play with anyone in the country,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Lohan and Zhang were impressive this weekend. This is undoubtedly the most talented group of freshmen that we have had in a long time. I’m excited about their future and excited to see them continue to get tested.”
Although the freshmen have put their potential on full display, they will be sharing the courts with a talented group of veterans headlined by No. 18 Stephanie Wagner, No. 71 Lina Lileikite and No. 111 Monique Albuquerque.
Miami will have three doubles teams competing: No. 3 Clementina Riobueno and Monique Albuquerque, Stephanie Wagner and Lina Lileikite and Bedford champs Sinead Lohan and Wendy Zhang.
Yaroshuk-Tews believes the trip to Atlanta will be a significant aid in the maturation of the freshmen.
“This is only going to strengthen the program,” Yaroshuk-Tews explained. “Our upperclassmen are so put-together, solid and mature. The freshmen will learn by being around them. They are going to see how we roll on the road and what the expectations are around the program.”
She added that the upperclassmen have “done a great job taking the freshmen under their wings to teach them about our program and college tennis.”
This will be the first time this fall season that the entire team will travel together.
Friday’s scheduled action includes the first two rounds of main doubles and the first rounds of B doubles, main singles and B singles.
Make sure to follow @HurricaneTennis on Twitter for updates from Atlanta. Track live results here.
