May 9, 2008

Results

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Sophomore All-American Laura Vallverdu, sophomore Claudia Wasilewski and freshman Bianca Eichkorn all swept their singles matches, 6-0, 6-0, as the 12^th-ranked and top-seeded University of Miami women's tennis team shut out Quinnipiac, 4-0, in first round action of the 2008 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships Friday at UM's Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

Miami (16-5) got out to an early lead over Quinnipiac (9-11) in all three doubles matches before the match was suspended due to inclement weather. After a delay of just over six hours, play resumed at approximately 5:45 p.m. with UM clinching  the doubles point shortly thereafter.

The 20^th-ranked team of Vallverdu and Romy Farah beat Quinnipiac's Mary Wilson and Adrienne Markison, 8-1, in the No. 1 spot for the early advantage before Eichkorn and Caren Seenauth won 8-0 at No. 2 against Jackie Herb and Amanda Petruzzi to put UM up 1-0.

Miami continued its strong play when single play began, winning all six first sets, 6-0. Vallverdu was the first to eventually complete her match, knocking off Wilson at No. 1 to put UM up two. Wasilewski would follow immediately after with another dominant win of her own, taking out Nikki Adams in the sixth position before Eichkorn sealed UM's eighth win in its last nine matches with a convincing win over Petruzzi at No. 4.

The first round win marked the seventh straight season UM has moved on into the second round of the NCAA Team Championships.

With her win, Eichkorn extends her singles winning streak to nine straight matches, with her last loss coming on March 9. Vallverdu and Farah also extended their winning streak at No. 1 doubles to four straight with their 8-1 victory.

Miami will now take on the winner of Friday night's match between No. 2-seed Notre Dame and No. 3-seed FIU in the regional final Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

NCAA Coral Gables Regional First Round Results

No. 12 Miami 4, Quinnipiac 0

Singles

1. No. 19 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Mary Wilson (QU), 6-0, 6-0

2. No. 100 Romy Farah (UM) vs. Jackie Herb (QU), DNF

3. No. 64 Michaela Kissell (UM) vs. Adrienne Markison (QU), DNF

4. Bianca Eichkorn (UM) def. Amanda Petruzzi (QU), 6-0, 6-0

5. Caren Seenauth (UM) vs. Lisanne Steinert (QU), DNF

6. Claudia Wasilewski (UM) def. Nikki Adams (QU), 6-0, 6-0

Order of Finish: 1, 6, 4

Doubles

1. No. 20 Laura Vallverdu/Romy Farah (UM) def. Mary Wilson/Adrienne Markison (QU), 8-1

2. Bianca Eichkorn/Caren Seenauth (UM) def. Jackie Herb/Amanda Petruzzi (QU), 8-0

3. Claudia Wasilewski/Jenna Osborne (UM) vs. Lisanne Steinert/Nikki Adams (QU), 7-1 (DNF)

Order of Finish: 1, 2