Epstein Advances to ITA SE Regional Quarterfinals
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Redshirt senior Maci Epstein of the University of Miami women’s tennis team earned two wins Saturday at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships Presented by Oracle to make the main draw quarterfinals.
In addition, junior Silvia Fuentes and sophomore Clara Tanielian both advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles back draw.
“Epstein played a tough match today against a player that she lost to a few weeks ago,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “This is where we want to be winning matches–in the big moments.”
In the lone doubles match of the day, junior Sinead Lohan and freshman Dominika Paterova met Anna Danilina and Spencer Liang of Florida in the main draw quarterfinals. Miami’s pair, seeded seventh, dropped a 5-8 decision to Florida’s duo, seeded third and ranked No. 37.
“Doubles looked better today, but we still have a ways to go,” Yaroshuk-Tews said.
Redshirt sophomore Yolimar Ogando, ranked No. 32 and seeded No. 5-8, and Epstein, seeded No. 9-16, both won their second round singles main draw matches. Ogando topped FIU’s Ulyana Grib, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), and Epstein beat Andrea Garcia of Florida State, 6-3, 6-1.
Miami’s other four players who reached round two of the singles main draw all fell. Paterova, facing Florida’s Liang again, came up short, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6. Mariana Gould of Georgia, seeded No. 9-16, picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win over freshman Sara Culbertson.
Freshman Estela Perez-Somarriba was defeated by Andrea Lazaro of FIU, 3-6, 3-6, and sophomore Ana Madcur, ranked No. 117 and seeded No. 9-16, had her nine-match winning streak snapped with a 3-6, 4-6 setback against Georgia’s Marta Gonzalez.
Ogando dropped her Round of 16 match to Georgia’s Eleni Christofi, seeded No. 9-16, in straight sets, 3-6, 4-6. Epstein, however, continued her strong showing by topping FIU’s Mina Markovic in comeback fashion, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals. She is set to play No. 77 Rasheeda McAdoo of Georgia Tech, seeded No. 9-16, Sunday.
In the opening round of singles back draw play, Fuentes cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win versus Anastasia Grosheva of Georgia State, while Tanielian had a bye.
Both players also earned victories in their Round of 16 matches. Fuentes downed FIU’s Nina Nagode, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8), and Tanielian earned a stellar 6-1, 6-0 victory against Juliana Cardoso of USF.
Sunday, in the quarterfinals, Fuentes takes on Kristin Rehse of Georgia State and Tanielian meets Georgia Tech’s Kenya Jones. Action is set to begin Sunday at 9 a.m.
“I’m looking forward to a fun day of tennis tomorrow,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We have the talent. Talent definitely needs to learn how far passion, desire and toughness goes in college.”
Draws, as well as updates to them throughout the weekend, can be found HERE. FloTennis will have premium live video streaming, which will be available HERE.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Doubles – Quarterfinals
No. 37 [3] Anna Danilina/Spencer Liang (UF) def. [7] Sinead Lohan/Dominika Paterova (UM), 8-5
Singles Main Draw – Round of 32
No. 32 [5-8] Yolimar Ogando (UM) def. Ulyana Grib (FIU), 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
Spencer Liang (UF) def. Dominika Paterova (UM), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
[9-16] Mariana Gould (GA) def. Sara Culbertson (UM), 6-3, 6-2
[9-16] Maci Epstein (UM) def. Andrea Garcia (FS), 6-3, 6-1
Andrea Lazaro (FIU) def. Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM), 6-3, 6-3
Marta Gonzalez (GA) def. No. 117 [9-16] Ana Madcur (UM), 6-3, 6-4
Singles Main Draw – Round of 16
[9-16] Eleni Christofi (GA) def. No. 32 [5-8] Yolimar Ogando (UM), 6-3, 6-4
[9-16] Maci Epstein (UM) def. Mina Markovic (FIU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Singles Back Draw – Round of 32
Silvia Fuentes (UM) def. Anastasia Grosheva (GST), 6-0, 6-0
Clara Tanielian (UM) – BYE
Singles Back Draw – Round of 16
Silvia Fuentes (UM) vs. Nina Nagode (FIU), 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
Clara Tanielian (UM) def. Juliana Cardoso (USF), 6-1, 6-0
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Singles Main Draw – Quarterfinals
[9-16] Maci Epstein (UM) vs. No. 77 [9-16] Rasheeda McAdoo (GT)
Singles Back Draw – Quarterfinals
Silvia Fuentes (UM) vs. Kristin Rehse (GST)
Clara Tanielian (UM) vs. Kenya Jones (GT)
