Perez-Somarriba’s Run Ends in Round of 16

By Alex Schwartz
HurricaneSports.com

Friday Result | Thursday Recap | Wednesday Recap | Final Fall Stats

Palm Desert, Calif. – Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of Miami women’s tennis team dropped a three-set decision Friday in the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships Round of 16.

For the third straight day, the sophomore lost the opening set, but this time was unable to come back and defeat North Carolina’s Alle Sanford at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.

“Estela was on and off with sticking to patterns at some key moments in the match today,” Miami associate head coach Laura Vallverdu said. “She had to stay emotionally on top of her opponent at a high level and it was just a bit choppy in my opinion.

“I am happy with how she was able to get in the match, but it was just a bit too slow at the beginning and that sets the tone for the entire way. Credit to Sanford, who came up with the goods in key moments today.”

Perez-Somarriba, ranked No. 11 and seeded ninth, came up just short in the first set, finding herself on the wrong end of a 4-6 decision.

The Madrid native then took the second set, 6-4, over Sanford, seeded fifth and ranked sixth on the ITA’s newcomer list.

In the decisive third set, Sanford took six of the seven games to come away with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory and reach the quarterfinals.

Perez-Somarriba ends the fall season with an 11-5 mark, including a 5-2 record against ranked opponents. Friday’s match served as the final one for any Hurricane in 2017, as the team will next take the court for spring tennis.

To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

FRIDAY RESULT

Main Draw Round of 16
[5] Alle Sanford (NC) def. No. 11 [9] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1