Oct. 31, 2008

Palm Desert, Calif. - Gabriela Mejia took a victory in Flight 3 of singles competition to highlight the University of Miami women's tennis team on the first day of action at the Duals in the Desert at the Palm Desert Tennis Club in Palm Desert, California.

Also known as the Palm Desert Classic, this year's event is taking place at the Moore Tennis Academy. The event is broken down into six different flights with the expected position players from each participating team throughout the season taking part in each flight, respectively.

Mejia, a freshman from Cali, Valle (Colombia), took a straight-set victory over North Carolina's Sophie Grabinski on scores of 6-0, 7-6(4). With the win, Mejia improves her record on the year to 3-4, and looks for her next opponent tomorrow in the semifinals of Flight 3 play.

In Flight 2 action, sophomore Michaela Kissell, ranked No. 49 in the nation, was downed on scores of 6-1, 6-4 by No. 29 Andrea Remynse of UCLA. For Kissell, four of her five losses on the season have come to opponents ranked in the preseason polls by the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association).

Meanwhile in Flight 4, freshman Alessa Waibel was defeated by Shinnan Featherston of North Carolina in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles competition, the Hurricanes duo of Waibel and Mejia was defeated by UCLA's Nina Pantic and Yasmin Schnack, 8-1. Though not being ranked as a team together, both Schnack and Pantic are ranked alongside another partner in the preseason ITA doubles polls.

Action continues tomorrow for the Hurricanes as play is set to begin at 9 a.m. (PCT). Waibel and teammate Kissell will continue play in singles action tomorrow for the back draw section of this year's event.

Results for the `Canes will be posted throughout the weekend at www.hurricanesports.com. For more information, please log on to www.itatennis.com, the official site for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.