Jan. 15, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. -
The No. 7 University of Miami women's tennis team opens its spring schedule this weekend (Jan. 16-18), taking part in the Michigan Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Joining the `Canes will be No. 11 Tennessee, No. 20 Michigan and No. 24 Washington.
Miami, which returns three All-Americans to the 2010 squad, is gearing up for a storied run in 2010 - and one in which head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews is excited to be a part of. Yaroshuk-Tews, entering into her ninth season in Coral Gables, is excited about the possibility this year holds for her veteran squad.
The Hurricanes will look towards senior Laura Vallverdu - entering the season ranked No. 7 in the Campbell's/ITA singles poll, for leadership this weekend. Vallverdu, winner of the ITA Indoor National Championships consolation singles title in November, is just five wins away from breaking the all-time singles wins mark at UM. She ended the fall campaign with a team-leading 10 singles victories.
Alongside Vallverdu in doubles play is sophomore Gabriela Mejia. Mejia and Vallverdu, paring together for a trip to the semifinals at the ITA Indoor Championships main draw for doubles, collected a 9-1 mark together in the fall. They enter the spring ranked No. 3 in the Campbell's/ITA doubles poll.
Junior Bianca Eichkorn, coming off the most successful sophomore season in school history with a record of 40-9, spent much of the fall season rehabbing from an injury. She entered the fall ranked No. 21 in the preseason singles poll, and collected a record of 3-3.
Newcomer Anna Bartenstein has been solid since arriving to UM via Tulane University over the summer, earning a team second-best 7-2 singles record in the fall. Senior Claudia Wasilewski, a competitor that has increased her total wins and winning percentage each year at UM, should continue to provide the `Canes with depth and strength at the No. 5 or No. 6 position this year.
The Michigan Invitational features each team playing three rounds of doubles and three rounds of singles. There will be eight flights in singles and four flights in doubles. Each day will consist of eight doubles matches and 16 singles matches. The third set will be played to completion in singles. Points will be allotted for each win based on the following decreasing point value to determine the champion (singles and doubles) at the end of the weekend.
The scoring for the individual and doubles champion will be decided through the following system:
Win at No. 1 position -- 8 points
Win at No. 2 position -- 7 points
Win at No. 3 position -- 6 points
Win at No. 4 position -- 5 points
Win at No. 5 position -- 4 points
Win at No. 6 position -- 3 points
Win at No. 7 position -- 2 points
Win at No. 8 position -- 1 point
Live stats and a video scoreboard feature for this weekend's event will be accessible by visiting http://www.mgoblue.com/livestats/m-tennis/indoor-outdoor.html.
This weekend, the Hurricanes will finish individual play before hosting their first dual team event of the 2010 slate against Florida Atlantic at home on Jan. 23. The match against the Owls will take place at 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.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Saturday, Jan. 16
10 a.m. Singles -- Miami vs. Tennessee
1 p.m. Doubles -- Michigan vs. Miami, Tennessee vs. Washington
Singles to follow -- Michigan vs. Washington
Sunday, Jan. 17
10 a.m. Singles -- Miami vs. Washington
1 p.m. Doubles -- Michigan vs. Washington, Miami vs. Tennessee
Singles to follow -- Michigan vs. Tennessee
Monday, Jan. 18
10 a.m. Singles -- Tennessee vs. Washington
12 p.m. Doubles -- Michigan vs. Tennessee, Miami vs. Washington
Singles to follow -- Michigan vs. Miami
