Singles Bracket 
May 22, 2008
TULSA, Okla. - For the third straight season and the fourth time in the last five years, the University of Miami will be represented in the NCAA Round of 16 in singles play after sophomore All-American Laura Vallverdu defeated Southern California's Gabriela Niculescu, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, Thursday morning in second round action the 2008 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles and Doubles Championship at the University of Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
The win for No. 19 Vallverdu (31-9) - her 18th in her last 20 matches - sets up a battle with the nation's top-ranked player, Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas, on Friday at 12 p.m. EST. Miseviciute (50-5), who has suffered two losses in her last seven decisions coming into Friday, downed Baylor's Taylor Ormond, 6-1, 7-5, on Thursday to advance.
After both Vallverdu and No. 49 Niculescu held serve the first four games to tie it up at 2-2, Vallverdu won the next two games to take an early 4-2 lead. Niculescu responded by winning the following game, but Vallverdu maintained control and won the next two for the 6-3 first-set win.
"Laura didn't play her best tennis today but she found a way to win as she so often does," assistant coach Jeff Thomsen said. "To win matches at this level when she isn't playing at her best goes to show how tough of an out she can be."
The start of the second set was nearly a mirror image of the first, with Vallverdu breaking a 2-2 tie to go up 4-2. This time however, Niculescu was able to fight back and win five of the next six games to take the second set, 7-5.
Vallverdu regained momentum when the third set began, taking a quick 5-1 lead. Niculescu then cut the lead to 5-3, but Vallverdu put her away to claim in the end to pick up her second career NCAA singles victory.
Later on Thurday, Vallverdu paired with teammate Romy Farah in doubles play to defeat Vanderbilt's No. 21 duo of Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery, 6-4, 6-2 to advance into the round of 16 in doubles. The duo will now face the nation's top-ranked tandem of Tracey Lin and Riza Zalameda of UCLA at 6:30 p.m. EST.
For more information on the 2008 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles and Doubles Championship, visit www.ncaasports.com or Tulsa's NCAA Championship page.
NCAA Singles Round of 32
No. 19 Laura Vallverdu (Miami) def. No. 49 Gabriela Niculescu (USC), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
