Yaroshuk-Tews Adds Two for Spring Season
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head women’s tennis coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews announced Friday the signing of two players who will join the team in January.
Daevenia Achong and Carla Girbau are both set to enroll next month and compete with the Hurricanes during the 2019 spring campaign.
“From the beginning, both Daevenia and Carla caught our attention because of their styles and the way they conducted themselves on the tennis court,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “They bring lots of love and intensity to the sport. We are excited to have them come in and for them to develop strong ties with this team.”
A 5-foot, 8-inch right-hander, Achong hails from Geleen, Netherlands. She graduated from Trevianum Scholengroep and ascended as high as No. 224 in the world during her illustrious ITF Juniors career.
In 2016, Achong reached the semifinals of five Grade 5 singles tournaments across Finland, Kenya and Sri Lanka. She made the championship in three of them, taking home a pair of titles. Achong, who owns a 33-17 singles record, also earned a Grade 4 singles title in Kenya that year.
Achong also had a great deal of success in doubles from 2015 through 2017, competing in tournaments in Finland, Kenya, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and Sri Lanka. Achong, who is 31-15 in doubles, made five Grade 5 semifinals, winning four titles, and reached three Grade 4 finales, garnering one trophy.
A multiple-time national tournament champion in the Netherlands, in both singles and doubles, Achong committed to Miami over Baylor and Ole Miss.
Girbau is a 5-foot, 7-inch right-hander who comes to Coral Gables from Barcelona, Spain. The Institut Obert de Catalunya graduate owns a 10.40 UTR after her strong play in numerous tournaments across Spain and beyond.
The Miami signee’s resume includes a trio of victories over players who earned top-100 ITF Juniors rankings, including notching a win over Switzerland’s Simona Waltert, who peaked at ninth on the list and No. 438 on the professional tour. She also boasts wins over at least a half-dozen players with an 11-plus UTR.
In January 2018, Girbau picked up her first WTA point and reached as high as No. 45 in the Spanish national rankings. She has earned trophies at tournaments such as the Catalonia Championship and the Nike Junior Cup, while finishing as the runner-up at a Doubles Spanish Championship.
Set to be the third Spaniard on the Hurricanes’ roster in 2019, Girbau signed with Miami over Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Rice.
The Hurricanes open the 2019 season Jan. 11-13 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center with the Miami Spring Invite and begin dual match competition Jan. 18 at Florida Atlantic.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
