Feb. 27, 2010
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
Coral Gables, Fla. -
No. 19 Miami (5-3, 1-0 ACC) took the doubles point and tacked on singles wins in the top five positions, as the Hurricanes posted a 6-1 victory over No. 12 Clemson on Saturday afternoon in ACC women's tennis action at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
With Miami having almost two weeks off since the last match, the `Canes opened Saturday's competition collecting two-of-three doubles positions for the early 1-0 advantage.
Clemson (11-3, 1-1 ACC) started off hot in doubles action with the 16th-ranked team of Ina Hadziselimovic and Josipa Bek picking up an 8-3 win from Miami's Bianca Eichkorn and Laura Vallverdu at the top flight position. Saturday marked the first time on the year Eichkorn and Vallverdu partnered together on the court.
The Hurricanes turned things around at the No. 3 position, where the team of Anna Bartenstein and Claudia Wasilewski - teaming for the third time on the year, claimed their second win as a duo, earning an 8-5 decision from the Tigers' Estefania Balda and Nelly Ciolkowski. Miami finished the doubles point at the No. 2 spot when Gabriela Mejia and Danielle Mills laid claim to a 9-8 (7-5) win against Clemson's Laurianne Henry and Keri Wong.
"The doubles point was huge for us," admitted ninth-year UM head women's tennis coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. "I think the team is learning that being a part of this program isn't always pretty. It's about grinding it out sometimes, and that's what we did to get the doubles point... and got off to a good start today."
In singles play, UM sophomore Anna Bartenstein (No. 89) was off the courts first courtesy a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Clemson's Ina Hadziselimovic at the third position. Bartenstein improved to 17-3 on the year, and upped her dual record to 7-1.
Junior All-American Bianca Eichkorn (No. 55) finished second for UM at the No. 2 position, posting a 6-3, 6-0 win over the Tigers' Keri Wong (No. 65). Eichkorn claimed her 13th win of the year, as she remains the only Hurricanes player with a perfect record in the spring (8-0).
The match victory for the `Canes was sealed at the No. 4 position with freshman Danielle Mills turning in an impressive 6-1, 6-4 win over Nelly Ciolkowski. With the win, Mills gained her 10th victory of the year, and now owns a 10-8 record overall (5-2 dual).
"We needed this win today," stated Yaroshuk-Tews. "This was a big win for us, and we wanted to get off on the right foot entering ACC play. Taking down a team like Clemson is no easy task, and I think the girls were committed to being tough today, and they played tough to earn the win."
Miami continued its dominance on the court as sophomore Gabriela Mejia (No. 118) posted her 13th win of the season, claiming a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Laurianne Henry at the fifth spot. The win also served as Mejia's seventh of the spring.
The match became 6-0, in favor of the Hurricanes, when three-time All-American senior Laura Vallverdu (No. 7) finished with a win at the top flight position, posting a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 decision over Clemson's Josipa Bek (No. 18). The win gave Vallverdu - Miami's all-time leader in singles wins - her 18th of the year, putting her at 18-8 for the season (6-2 dual). She also moved to 10-7 against nationally ranked competition on the 2009-10 campaign.
The Tigers avoided the sweep when Estefania Balda recorded a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 triumph over Miami senior Claudia Wasilewski at the six position. Wasilewski falls to 10-9 on the season, while dropping to 3-4 on the spring.
"Having almost two weeks off between matches was a bit long, as far as playing a match is concerned," stated Yaroshuk-Tews. "But having the break we just enjoyed, mentally, was great. It gave us time to get prepared mentally, and be ready for the ACC season ahead. And, obviously, it was big for us today."
Prior to the beginning of singles play, the Miami women's tennis team honored Elizabeth Levinson, who was in attendance as a special guest. Levinson played for the Hurricanes from 1985-89, and earned Academic All-America honors in her time at UM.
Miami returns to the courts on Fri., Mar. 5, when Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Boston College visits the Neil Schiff Tennis Center at noon.
For more information on University of Miami women's tennis, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. After browsing to the women's tennis home page, you will find the latest news, stats and match notes pertaining to the Hurricanes women's tennis program.
No. 19 Miami 6, No. 12 Clemson 1
Singles
1. #7 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. #18 Josipa Bek (CU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. #55 Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. #65 Keri Wong (CU) 6-3, 6-0
3. #89 Anna Bartenstein (UM) def. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Danielle Mills (UM) def. #90 Nelly Ciolkowski (CU) 6-1, 6-4
5. #118 Gabriela Mejia (UM) def. Laurianne Henry (CU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Estefania Balda (CU) def. Claudia Wasilewski (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 10-6
Order of Finish: (3, 2, 4*, 5, 1, 6)
Doubles
1. #16 Ina Hadziselimovic/Josipa Bek (CU) def. Bianca Eichkorn/Laura Vallverdu (UM) 8-3
2. Gabriela Mejia/Danielle Mills (UM) def. Laurianne Henry/Keri Wong (CU) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Anna Bartenstein/Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. Estefania Balda/Nelly Ciolkowski (CU) 8-5
Order of Finish: (1, 3, 2*)
