Cavalier Women's Tennis Shocks No. 6 Miami 4-3
Story Links
April 9, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE – The No. 29 Virginia women’s tennis team posted the biggest win in school history Sunday, upsetting No. 6 Miami 4-3 at the Snyder Tennis Center. The win marked the highest ranked opponent the Cavaliers have ever beaten, topping the previous record of No. 10 set two weeks ago when the Cavaliers defeated Duke. The improved the Cavaliers’ record to 11-7 on the season, 5-4 in the ACC as the team tied the school record for most ACC wins in a season.
The Hurricanes (16-4, 8-2 ACC) took the early 1-0 lead by capturing the doubles point. After Miami had won at No. 2 doubles, the Cavaliers drew even as Rachel DelPriore (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Lara Alexander (London, England) topped Caren Seenauth and Patricia Starzyk 8-4 at No. 3 doubles. With the doubles point on the line, the No. 5 ranked team of Melissa Applebaum and Audra Cohen won a tight 8-6 match at No. 1 doubles for Miami over No. 11 ranked Lori Stern (Ojai, Calif.) and Kristen James (Clifton, Va.).
In singles, the Hurricanes extended their lead to 3-0 as Audrey Banada defeated Alexander at No. 5 singles and Cohen downing DelPriore at No. 1 singles. On senior day for the Cavaliers, a pair of fourth-years started the comeback. Stern upset No. 63 ranked Applebaum 7-5, 6-4 at No. 3 singles to cut the Miami advantage to 3-1. James then pushed the Cavaliers closer, as she downed Monika Dancevic 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Caroline Hammond (Williamsburg, Va.) drew Virginia even, 3-3, as she topped Seenauth in three sets at No. 6 singles. The dual match then came down to the match at No. 4 singles, where it did not look good for the Cavaliers. Lindsey Pereira (Arlington, Texas) had lost the first set to Starzyk 7-6 and trailed in the second set 5-3. After breaking Starzyk to get to 5-4 in the second set, Pereira faced triple match point against her at love-40. Pereira fought off the match points against her, held serve and won the set 7-5. Then in the third set, Pereira broke Starzyk to open the set and took control of the match, winning 6-7, 7-5, 6-1.
“It is a great day for Virginia tennis,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “Both the men’s and women’s tennis programs, we are all really fortunate to be part of something so special..”
The Cavaliers hit the road to close out the regular season next week. They visit Boston College on Thursday and Maryland on Saturday.
No. 29 Virginia 4, No. 6 Miami 3
Doubles
1) #5 Applebaum/Cohen (UM) def. #11 Stern/James (UVa) 8-6
2) Banada/Dancevic (UM) def. Hammond/Rales (UVa) 8-3
3) DelPriore/Alexander (UVa) def. Starzyk/Seenauth (UM) 8-4
Singles:
1) #2 Audra Cohen (UM) def. Rachel DelPriore (UVa) 6-4, 6-0
2) #105 Kristen James (UVa) def. #112 Monika Dancevic (UM) 7-5, 6-1
3) Lori Stern (UVa) def. #63 Melissa Applebaum (UM) 7-5, 6-4
4) Lindsey Pereira (UVa) def. Patricia Starzyk (UM) 6-7, 7-5, 6-1
5) #123 Audrey Banada (UM) def. Lara Alexander (UVa) 6-1, 6-0
6) Caroline Hammond (UVa) def. Caren Seenauth (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2