W. Tennis Starts Strong at ITA Fall Nationals
By Alex Schwartz
HurricaneSports.com
Palm Desert, Calif. – Both of the University of Miami women’s tennis team’s representatives at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships tallied wins Wednesday on the first day of competition.
Sophomore Estela Perez-Somarriba logged a three-set comeback victory, while senior Sinead Lohan triumphed in straight sets at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
“Both Estela and Sinead fought hard to get wins today,” Miami associate head coach Laura Vallverdu said. “We are planning for quicker starts tomorrow on some important areas of their games. All in all, it was a good first day.”
Perez-Somarriba, ranked No. 11 and seeded ninth, fell behind No. 41 Maria Kononova of North Texas after dropping the opening set, 3-6.
However, the 2017 NCAA Singles Championship semifinalist stormed back, losing just six games the rest of the way to record a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win. The triumph is her fourth of the fall against a ranked player, including her second over a top-50 opponent.
Eighth-ranked and seventh-seeded Lohan made quick work of Loyola Marymount’s Eva Marie Voracek, registering a 6-2, 6-3 victory. The win upped the 2016 NCAA Singles Championship semifinalist’s record to 9-1.
In defeating Voracek, Lohan also tied Audrey Bañada for fourth place on the Hurricanes’ all-time singles wins list with 110.
Thursday’s Round of 32 action will begin at 11 a.m. ET, with Perez-Somarriba and Lohan’s opponents and match times still to be determined.
Additional info on the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, including draws, can be found HERE.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
Main Draw First Round
No. 11 [9] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) def. No. 41 Maria Kononova (UNT), 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 8 [7] Sinead Lohan (UM) def. Eva Marie Voraceck (LMU), 6-2, 6-3
