Feb. 16, 2008

Seventh-Ranked Hurricanes Dominate UCF, 6-1

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - In the first of two home matches this weekend, the seventh-ranked University of Miami women's tennis team picked up a dominating 6-1 win over UCF Saturday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Despite losing the doubles point to the Knights to open play, UM was able to sweep all six singles matches in straight sets to pick up its sixth win of the season and third against an in-state opponent.

The Hurricanes (6-1) struggled early on in the match, dropping two-of-three doubles matches to fall behind 1-0. After the break, the momentum moved over to UM's side when singles play commenced.

Gina Sabatino tied the match up at 1-1 with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win in the sixth position. No. 29 Laura Vallverdu would put Miami up by one with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 win over Elvira Serrot in the top position and the `Canes wouldn't look back from there, sweeping the rest of the singles play.

Cavalier Women's Tennis Downs Harvard 5-2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia women's tennis team opened a four-match homestand Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over Harvard at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Sports Club. The victory was the second consecutive win for the Cavaliers, who improve to 3-3 on the season.

The Cavaliers took the early lead by winning the doubles point. Jennifer Stevens (Miami, Fla.) and Hampton Williams (Raleigh, N.C.) cruised to an 8-0 win at No. 3 doubles over Catriona Stewart and Vilsa Curto. Maggie Yahner (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Lindsey Pereira (Arlington, Texas) clinched the opening point for the Cavaliers with their 9-8 win over Beier Ko and Samantha Rosekrans at No. 2 doubles. The Harvard team of Laura Peterzan and Stephanie Schnitter won at No. 1 doubles, topping Amanda Rales (Bethesda, Md.) and Lara Alexander (London, England) 8-6.

In singles, the Cavaliers extended their lead to 2-0 as Alexander topped Curto 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Harvard rallied to tie the score, 2-2, as Rosekrans defeated Williams at No. 6 and Ko topped Rales at the No. 1 position. Pereira's 6-1, 6-0 win over Stewart at No. 4 singles gave Virginia the lead, 3-2, and Stevens clinched the match with her 6-2, 6-4 win over Peterzan at No. 2 singles. Yahner completed the match with a superbreaker victory over Schnitter at No. 3 singles.

No. 44 Women's Tennis Drops No. 60 SMU, 6-1

RALEIGH, N.C. - The No. 44 NC State women's tennis team beat previously unbeaten No. 60 SMU on Saturday afternoon at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. The Wolfpack improved to 4-1 on the season while SMU dropped to 6-1.

The Pack got the match started off on the right foot as they claimed the doubles point, as they have done in every match so far this season. The No. 2 doubles duo of Lenka Hojckova and Julia Roach improved to 5-0 on the season with an 8-2 victory. With the teams splitting the first two doubles matches it came down to the tandem of Kristen Bleakley and Catherine Grotz at No. 3 doubles to decide who would get the point. The match was forced into a tiebreaker after the match was tied at 8-8. In the tiebreak the Wolfpack would prevail 8-6 to give them the doubles point for the fifth time this season.

Virginia Tech Blanks Davidson, 7-0

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's tennis team had no trouble Saturday afternoon in defeating Davidson College 7-0, at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus.

Tech (6-2), ranked No. 63 in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association national poll, swept the three doubles matches for the first point of the day, then took all of the six singles contests for the victory.

In singles, Yasmin Hamza (Fr., Cairo, Egypt) won her No. 1 match, 6-3, 6-2, over Kelsey Linville while Jessica Brouwer (Jr, Maarssen, Netherlands) had no trouble at No. 3 with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Kim Whelen. Tech received two other straight set wins as Abbey Walker (Jr., Lancaster, S.C.) won 6-4, 6-2, versus Michelle Fanney at No. 4 and J.J. Larson (Sr., Orchard Park, N.Y.) picked up a 6-3, 6-2, No. 5 decision against Alison Rauh.

Hokies Sweep Second Match of the Day

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's team completed a sweep of two matches Saturday evening with a 7-0 victory over UNC Greensboro at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus. Earlier in the day the Hokies defeated Davidson, 7-0.

Tech (7-2), ranked No. 63 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national poll, took the doubles for the first point of the day then won all of the six singles contests for the victory.

In singles, Jessica Brouwer (Jr., Maarssen, Netherlands) made quick work of Valerie Behr, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 while J.J. Larson (Sr., Orchard Park, N.Y.) defeated Britney Cloer in the No. 4 contest, 6-2, 6-3. Holly Johnson (Fr., Tallahassee, Fla.) posted an impressive 6-1, 6-1, win at No. 5 versus Erica Zabkar and Bethan James (Sr., Flintshire, UK) won a tight 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (12) No. 6 match against Courtney Akel. The Hokies completed the sweep as Yasmin Hamza (Fr., Cairo, Egypt) rallied to defeat Alejandra Guerra at No. 1, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (7), and Jessica Long (Sr., Elizabethtown, Pa.) won the No. 2 contest, 7-6, 6-0, over Arielle VonStrolley.

Clemson Falls To Kentucky, 5-2, On Saturday

CLEMSON, S.C. - The 18th-ranked Clemson women's tennis was upset by #29 Kentucky, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. The Tigers claimed the doubles point for the sixth time this season but fell in five singles matches to drop to 3-5 on the year.

The Wildcats improved to 7-1.

Ani Mijacika, ranked #4 in the country, improved to 15-4 for the fall and spring seasons combined with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alaina Tragovich at the top singles position.

Mijacika also teamed with Estefania Balda to sweep Kentucky's 20th-ranked tandem of Carolina Escamilla and Christine Johnston, 8-0, at the number one doubles position. Carol Salge and Federica van Adrichem then won at flight two over Wildcats Megan Broderick and Sarah Wostman, 8-2. Clemson's team of Alexandra Luc and Kathryn Gerber fell to Lauren Meier and Tragovich at flight three, 8-5.