@CanesWTennis Falls at Second-Ranked Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Miami women’s tennis team dropped a 4-0 decision Saturday afternoon at second-ranked Ohio State.
Facing its fourth top-25 opponent of the young season, the Hurricanes fell behind early and were unable to battle back at the Varsity Tennis Center against a team with a ranked player at each singles position.
“Today was tough. OSU was definitely the better team,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “As crazy as it might seem, we are starting to see some real bright spots in this lineup. We played this team to get a look at the best and we need to learn from this expierence.”
Ohio State (10-1) opened play with a stellar showing in doubles. No. 47 Gabriella De Santis and Sandy Niehaus topped redshirt senior Maci Epstein and sophomore Silvia Fuentes, 6-0. Francesca Di Lorenzo and Anna Sanford recorded a 6-1 victory over junior Sinead Lohan and sophomore Clara Tanielian to clinch in the doubles point.
In the match that was left unfinished, Ferny Angeles Paz and Miho Kowase held a 3-1 advantage over the Miami (2-4, 1-0 ACC) duo of sophomore Ana Madcur and freshman Estela Perez-Somarriba.
Di Lorenzo, the top-ranked singles player in the nation, earned the first point of singles play, notching a 6-0, 6-1 victory over seventh-ranked Lohan.
No. 84 Niehaus pushed the Buckeyes’ lead to 3-0 with a 6-0, 6-4 win against Madcur. No. 42 Kowase clinched the match by topping freshman Dominika Paterova, 6-2, 6-3. The three remaining matches were left unfinished.
No. 76 Perez-Somarriba won a 22-point tiebreaker, 12-10, against No. 53 Sanford to take the opening set, 7-6. The second set did not get underway before play was halted.
No. 97 Epstein, who won the first seven games of the match, led No. 57 De Santis, 6-0, 3-6, 1-0, and Fuentes trailed No. 120 Angeles Paz, 3-6, 1-4, at the conclusion of competition.
“We may lose some matches, but we will not lose our sense of pride,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “I believe in this team and what we are capable of achieving this year, it’s just going to take some time.”
For Ohio State, the victory avenged one of its only three losses last year. Then-No. 12 Miami earned a 4-2 home win over the then-second-ranked Buckeyes on March 16, 2016.
The Hurricanes resume play March 3 when they host No. 16 NC State at 2 p.m., at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
RESULTS
Doubles Competition
1. Francesca Di Lorenzo/Anna Sanford (OS) def. Sinead Lohan/Clara Tanielian (UM), 6-1
2. No. 47 Gabriella De Santis/Sandy Niehaus (OS) def. Maci Epstein/Silvia Fuentes (UM), 6-0
3. Ferny Angeles Paz/Miho Kowase (OS) vs. Ana Madcur/Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM), 3-1, unfinished
Singles Competition
1. No. 1 Francesca Di Lorenzo (OS) def. No. 7 Sinead Lohan (UM), 6-0, 6-1
2. No. 76 Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) vs. No. 53 Anna Sanford (OS), 7-6 (12-10), unfinished
3. No. 97 Maci Epstein (UM) vs. No. 57 Gabriella De Santis (OS), 6-0, 3-6, 1-0, unfinished
4. No. 42 Miho Kowase (OS) def. Dominika Paterova (UM), 6-2, 6-3
5. No. 84 Sandy Niehaus (OS) def. Ana Madcur (UM), 6-0, 6-4
6. No. 120 Ferny Angeles Paz (OS) def. Silvia Fuentes (UM), 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
