Tennis Drops 5-2 Decision to No. 13 Miami at ITA National Qualifier University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennis Drops 5-2 Decision to No. 13 Miami at ITA National Qualifier

Samantha Orlin

Feb. 1, 2009

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The No. 23 University of Tennessee women's tennis team (3-1) was not able to overcome a deep and talented No. 13 Miami squad (5-0) in the championship match of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Qualifier on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Hurricanes, 5-2, at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Although the Lady Vols suffered their first loss of the season, the doubles pairing of sophomore Jennifer Meredith and freshman Natalie Pluskota continued its torrid streak, winning its 10th-consecutive match to run its record to 12-1 on the season. In singles play, UT picked up a pair of points behind the strength of victories from both senior Samantha Orlin and junior Zsófia Zubor.

For the second straight day, the Big Orange fell just short of claiming the doubles point, allowing the Hurricanes to take the early lead. The Miami twosome of Julia Cohen and Laura Vallverdu opened the afternoon with an 8-4 victory over UT junior Caitlin Whoriskey and Zubor on the first court, but Meredith and Pluskota quickly answered with an identical 8-4 triumph over Gabriela Mejia and Alessa Waibel at the third position in the lineup.

With the all-important doubles point now riding on the outcome of the match on court two, the No. 14-rated duo of Bianca Eichkorn and Michaela Kissell secured it for the Hurricanes with an 8-4 victory over the Tennessee tandem of sophomores Rosalía Alda and Maria Sorbello.

Unlike Saturday's contest against Virginia, the Lady Vols were not able to regain the momentum in singles play, as Miami quickly clinched the victory and a berth in the ITA National Indoor Championships, with a trio of wins. Alda was the first to fall, dropping a 6-0, 6-1, decision to No. 50 Kissell at the third position, just before Pluskota was defeated, 6-4, 6-2, by No. 114 Vallverdu one spot up in the lineup. The Hurricanes then moved the score to 4-0 and sealed the win when the 20th-ranked Eichkorn took out Meredith, 6-4, 6-3, on the fourth court.

With the outcome of the match already decided, Tennessee finally got on the scoreboard when Orlin, ranked No. 77 in the nation, scored a three-set win over Claudia Wasilewski, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Following a 3-6, 6-3, 2-10, loss by the 92nd-ranked Whoriskey to No. 8 Cohen on center court, Zubor closed out the match by outlasting Mejia in a third-set super tiebreaker, 3-6, 7-6, 13-11, on court six.

The Orange and White will next be in action when it opens the home portion of its schedule next weekend. The Lady Vols will welcome No. 28 Virginia to Rocky Top for a rematch of Saturday's contest at Noon on Sun., Feb. 8, at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

SINGLES
1.	No. 8 Julia Cohen (Miami)	def.	No. 92 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee)	6-3, 3-6, 10-2
2.	No. 114 Laura Vallverdu (Miami)	def.	Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee)	6-4, 6-2
3.	No. 50 Michaela Kissell (Miami)	def.	Rosalía Alda (Tennessee)	6-0, 6-1
4.	No. 20 Bianca Eichkorn (Miami)	def.	Jennifer Meredith (Tennessee)	6-4, 6-3
5.	No. 77 Samantha Orlin (Tennessee)	def.	Claudia Wasilewski (Miami)	6-4, 1-6, 6-3
6.	Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee)	def.	Gabriela Mejia (Miami)	3-6, 7-6, 13-11
DOUBLES
1.	Julia Cohen/Laura Vallverdu (Miami)	def.	Caitlin Whoriskey/Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee)	8-4
2.	No. 14 Bianca Eichkorn/Michaela Kissell (Miami)	def.	Rosalía Alda/Maria Sorbello (Tennessee)	8-4
3.	Jennifer Meredith/Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee)	def.	Gabriela Mejia/Alessa Waibel (Miami)	8-4

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,4*,5,1,6)

2011-12 Tennis Schedule
2011-12 Stats 2010-11 Stats
2012 Yearbook
2011 SEC Championship
News 2011-12 Roster Past Seasons
Tennis Tips from the Coaches Camp Flyer
Twitter