Canes Win Three Matches On Day One in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Five members of the University of Miami women’s tennis team opened play at the USTA Clay Court Invitational on Thursday, with three advancing. Three other Hurricanes received byes on day one, giving Miami six players who will move on in the tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

In the A Draw, No. 111 senior Monique Albuquerque, the No. 6 seed, dropped a close match to Clemson’s Joana Eidukonyte, 7-5, 6-4. She will play Abbi Melrose of Oklahoma Friday at 11:00 in the A Conoslation Draw.

In B Draw play, Wendy Zhang, the No. 3-4 seed, opened her tournament with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory over Julia Jamieson of Illinois. The freshman will take on Clare Mendell of UCF at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Junior Clementina Riobueno, seeded No. 5-8 in the B Draw, edged Oklahoma State’s Maria Alvarez in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Riobueno is set to play Jillian Rooney of Northwestern Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Also in the B Draw, Sinead Lohan knocked off No. 5-8 seed Carla Tur Mari of Oklahoma State, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. The freshman’s next match will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. against UCF’s Kennan Johnson.

“Clementina, Sinead and Wendy took care of business today,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said of the trio of B Draw winners. “They all played solid and adjusted to the clay really well.”

In the C Draw, Judith Bohnenkamp lost a three-set match to Carolina Meregalli of Stetson, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. The freshman will shift to the B Draw Consolation for her next match, which will be against USF’s Jessica Cortes Chaves Friday at 1:00 p.m.

Junior Stephanie Wagner and senior Lina Lileikite, ranked No. 18 and No. 71 respectively, are the top two seeds in the A Draw and received byes on Thursday. Wagner will face Marika Akkerman of North Carolina in the second round and Lileikite matches up with Northwestern’s Manon Peri, both at 8:00 a.m. Friday.

After receiving a bye on Thursday, freshman Silvia Fuentes, the No. 1 seed in the C Draw, will play Maja Salibasic of Stetson on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Action from the tournament is being broadcast on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.

For the latest news and notes from Miami women’s tennis, follow @HurricaneTennis on Twitter.

THURSDAY RESULTS

A Draw

Joana Eidukonyte (Clemson) def. No. 111 [6] Monique Albuquerque, 7-5, 6-4

B Draw

[3-4] Wendy Zhang def. Julia Jamieson (Illinois), 6-2, 6-0

[5-8] Clementina Riobueno def. Maria Alvarez (Oklahoma State), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

Sinead Lohan def. [5-8] Carla Tur Mari (Oklahoma State), 6-4, 6-4

C Draw

Carolina Meregalli (Stetson) def. Judith Bohnenkamp, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

FRIDAY SCHEDULE

A Draw

No. 18 [1] Stephanie Wagner vs. Marika Akkerman (North Carolina) at 8:00 a.m.

No. 71 [2] Lina Lileikite vs. Manon Peri (Northwestern) at 8:00 a.m.

A Consolation Draw

No. 111 [6] Monique Albuquerque vs. Abbi Melrose (Oklahoma) at 11:00 a.m.

B Draw

[3-4] Wendy Zhang vs. Clare Mendell (UCF) at 9:30 a.m.

[5-8] Clementina Riobueno vs. Jillian Rooney (Northwestern) at 9:30 a.m.

Sinead Lohan vs. Kennan Johnson (UCF) at 9:30 a.m.

B Consolation Draw

Judith Bohnenkamp vs. Jessica Cortes Chaves (USF) at 1:00 p.m.

C Draw

[1] Silvia Fuentes vs. Maja Salibasic (Stetson) at 8:30 a.m.