UM Splits Matches to Open Riviera/ITA Champs.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team began play at the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships Tuesday with a pair of Hurricanes participating in the qualifying draw.

Senior Clementina Riobueno and sophomore Wendy Zhang each played two matches at the Riviera Tennis Club, both dropping the first and winning the second.

No. 63 Riobueno took on Houston’s Despoina Vogasari, ranked No. 42, in the first round of the qualifying bracket. Vogasari, seeded No. 9-16 in the field, earned a 6-4, 6-1 win to advance.

Riobueno then faced No. 75 Lucia Butkovska of Portland in the back draw and came away with a victory in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, for her first defeat of a ranked opponent this fall.

Zhang, ranked No. 73, began her day by facing Jessie Aney of North Carolina and dropped a hard-fought three set contest, 7-5, 3-6, 3-6.  In her back draw match, Zhang rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win against Maureen Slattery of Denver.

Both Riobueno and Zhang will have one more match in the Golden State before returning to Coral Gables, Fla. Each of them will play at 4:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, with their opponents yet to be determined.

For more information on the University of Miami women’s tennis program, follow @HurricaneTennis.

TUESDAY RESULTS

Qualifying Draw – First Round
No. 42 [9-16] Despoina Vogasari (HOU) def. No. 63 Clementina Riobueno (Miami), 6-4, 6-1
Jessie Aney (UNC) def. No. 73 Wendy Zhang (Miami), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

Qualifying Back Draw – First Round
No. 63 Clementina Riobueno (Miami) def. No. 75 Lucia Butkovska (POR), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
No. 73 Wendy Zhang (Miami) def. Maureen Slattery (DEN), 6-2, 6-3

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

Back Draw – Second Round
4:30 p.m.: No. 63 Clementina Riobueno vs. TBD
4:30 p.m.: No. 73 Wendy Zhang vs. TBD