May 24, 2009

Miami's Vallverdu to Play for NCAA Women's Singles Championship
University of Miami women's tennis junior Laura Vallverdu took a three-set triumph (6-4, 5-7, 6-4) over Georgia's Chelsey Gullickson on Sunday evening in the semifinal round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championships at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas. Vallverdu will now play for a chance at the NCAA Singles National Championship on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. (CT).

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will be toting the 2009 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles National Championship away from the "Lone Star" state, but where it goes is to be determined Monday afternoon. The championship match will consist of Duke's Mallory Cecil and Miami's Vallverdu. The title will either head back to Coral Gables for the second time in three years, or travel to Durham, N.C. for the first time since 1998.

In the day's other semifinal women's match, Cecil earned her trip to the finals against Miami's No. 1 singles player, Julia Cohen. All-ACC performer and No. 2 seeded Cohen's championship run ended in the semifinals with a loss at the hands of fifth-seeded Cecil. Cecil opened up the match with an early break, then cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 victor--the third consecutive for Cecil over Cohen.

Cecil Wins Again; Will Vie For National Title On Monday
Duke University freshman Mallory Cecil earned the opportunity vie for her second national championship in a week after cruising to victory over this afternoon in the NCAA Women's Tennis Individual Championship semifinal today. The fifth-seeded Cecil will play Miami's Laura Vallverdu for the national title on May 25 at 4 p.m., at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center.

Cecil eased her way into the final match with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory over Miami's second-seeded Julia Cohen. The win is the third straight for Cecil over Cohen. She defeated her Hurricane rival in the ACC Tournament and again in the NCAA Tournament team quarterfinal match.

Cecil used an early break in the opening set and cruised to the 6-1 victory to take a one set to love lead in the match. The rookie native of Spartanburg, S.C., native kept Cohen on her heals throughout the opening set with aggressive play and getting to the net to finish out points.