No. 10 UM Hosts Wichita State Saturday at Noon
Feb. 22, 2008
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The 10th-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team will play its final regular season non-conference match this weekend when it plays host to No. 47 Wichita State Saturday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Hurricanes (6-2) split their matches this past weekend, defeating in-state foe UCF, 6-1, on Saturday before falling to then-10th ranked Baylor, 4-1, on Sunday. In the latest ITA rankings released Wednesday, three Hurricanes joined sophomore Laura Vallverdu among the nation’s elite. In addition to Vallverdu, who moved from No. 29 to No. 14 in the latest poll, a pair of freshmen entered the rankings for the first time with Bianca Eichkorn coming in at No. 62 and Michaela Kissell at No. 70. Senior Romy Farah also jumped into the rankings at No. 80.
Eichkorn currently leads the team with 17 wins this season while Kissell comes in riding an 11-match winning streak dating back into the fall season. Vallverdu continues to lead UM at the top, beating two Top 15 opponents in her last three matches while Farah has a mark of 9-3 this spring playing mostly behind Vallverdu in the No. 2 spot.
Senior Caren Seenauth is 5-3 in dual match play in the No. 5 position for Miami while fellow senior Gina Sabatino is 2-2 in the sixth position.
“Heading into this weekend, we’re definitely looking for our three seniors to lead us to a big win in our final non-conference match,” assistant coach Jeff Thomsen said. “A win over WichitaState will go a long way towards how well we are playing when conference play starts up next week.”
Wichita State comes in with a record of 1-2 this spring, with losses to No. 5 Georgia and KansasState to open the spring before picking up a 5-2 win over Oklahoma Feb. 15. The Shockers are led at the top of their singles lineup by Stephanie Dalmacio while the doubles duo of Florentina Hanisch and Lenore Lazaroiu is ranked as the No. 60 team by the ITA.
Saturday’s contest will be a rematch of the 2007 NCAA Regional battle when the Hurricanes defeated the Shockers, 4-0, in Coral Gables.
The `Canes will open ACC play next week when they travel to Tallahassee to face in-state rival Florida State, Friday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m.
For live results of this weekend’s match, click here.
