Miami Drops Season Opener to FAU

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team (0-1) fell, 4-1, to the FAU Owls (1-0) on Thursday afternoon at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center.

The Owls opened the match by taking the doubles point after wins on court three and one. Freshmen Aely Arai and Savannah Webster fell 1-6 to Panna Bartha and Lexi Silna at the No. 3 spot, followed by another FAU win at the top court from Malwain Rowinska and Lara Smejkal over junior Xinyi Nong and freshman Jaquelyn Ogunwale, 6-4.

Ogunwale tied the match up at the top court in singles, earning a ranked win over No. 108 Victoria Gomez O’Hayon, 6-0, 6-3. The Owls struck back on three consecutive courts to earn FAU’s first win over Miami in program history.

Millie-Mae Matthews took down Webster, 6-3, 6-2, on court six to take back the lead, followed by a 6-4, 6-4 win from Rowinska against Arai at the No. 4 spot. To finish it off, Silna notched a straight-set win over sophomore Maria Paula Vargas, 6-1, 7-6 (5), on court five.

The Hurricanes will host cross-town rival FIU on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.