Wagner and Lohan Advance to Singles Quarters
ATLANTA, Ga. – On day two of the ITA Southeast Regionals, the University of Miami women’s tennis team continued their success, winning 10 matches.
In the singles main draw, No. 18 Stephanie Wagner advanced to the round of 32 after cruising to a straight-set victory over Georgia’s Caroline Brinson, 6-4, 6-2.
Wagner faced Florida’s No. 89 Belinda Woolcock in the round of 16. She repeated her performance from the previous round, straight-setting Woolcock, 6-3, 6-1.
Freshman Sinead Lohan will join Wagner in the singles main draw round of 16 after two Saturday wins. Lohan was able to sweep Stefani Stojic (UF) in the round of 32, 6-3, 6-4.
Awaiting Lohan was No. 24 Yana Koroleva of FIU. After Koroleva secured the first set, 6-4, Lohan responded like a veteran, taking the second set in commanding fashion, 6-2.
There was not any drama in the decisive third set. Miami’s freshman claimed her place in the quarterfinals with a 6-1 victory to win the match.
In other singles main draw action, Clementina Riobueno fell to Paige Hourigan (GT), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, and Wendy Zhang was defeated by Johnnise Renuad (GT), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
The Hurricanes had a hat trick in the singles consolation round of 32, winning all three of their matches. Seniors Monique Albuquerque, Lina Lileikite and freshman Silvia Fuentes advanced to the consolation round of 16.
Albuquerque and Lileikite won their ways into the quarterfinals, each with straight-set wins over Alexis Prokopuik (GT) and Sarah Means (FGCU), respectively.
Miami’s veteran doubles pair of Stephanie Wagner and Lina Lileikite continued their surprising run through the main doubles draw.
Wagner and Lileikite faced Georgia’s tenth-ranked duo of Lauren Herring and Silva Garcia. The Hurricanes needed a tiebreaker, but were still able to upset Herring/Silva, 8-7 (3).
In the final four, Wagner/Lileikite will be tested by Florida’s No. 13 pair of Kourtnery Keegan and Belinda Woolcock.
Head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews has been impressed with her team’s performance through the first two days of Regionals.
“We fought hard today,” she explained. “Fuentes took down a solid player from Georgia [Mia King] and Sinead Lohan was finally able to connect with a big win over a top-25 player [Yana Koroleva]. Zhang played a great match, despite coming up a little short in the end.”
Yaroshuk-Tews singled out the competitive spirit shown by the juniors and seniors.
“I’m proud of the upperclassmen and their determination to get through a few more rounds,” she said.
The Canes will be playing for championship births tomorrow, but the team has embraced the challenge. Yaroshuk-Tews put it best: “Tomorrow is going to be a fun day.”
For updates from Atlanta, follow @HurricaneTennis.
RESULTS
Singles
Main Draw Round of 32
Stephanie Wagner (Miami) def. Caroline Brinson (UGA), 6-4, 6-2.
Sinead Lohan (Miami) def. Stefani Stojic (UF), 6-3, 6-4.
Johnnise Renaud (GT) def. Wendy Zhang, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Paige Hourigan (GT) def. Clementina Riobueno, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Round of 16
Stephanie Wagner (Miami) def. Belinda Woolcock (University of Florida), 6-3, 6-1.
Sinead Lohan (Miami) def. Yana Koroleva (Florida International), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Consolation 32
Monique Albuquerque (Miami) def. Esther Zuniga (UNF), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Lina Lileikite (Miami) def. Alexandra Mercardo (Kennesaw State), 6-0, 6-2.
Silvia Fuentes (Miami) def. Mia King (UGA), 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Consolation 16
Monique Albuquerque (Miami) def. Alexis Prokopuik (GT), 6-3, 6-4.
Lina Lileikite (Miami) def. Sarah Means (FGCU), 6-4, 6-0.
Doubles
Main Draw
Stephanie Wagner and Lina Lileikite (Miami) def. Lauren Herring and Silva Garcia (UGA), 8-7 (3).
