Saturday, March 1, 2003

No. 21 Miami too much for FIU

ross-town rival Miami defeated the FIU women's tennis team, 6-1, Saturday afternoon in Coral Gables. The No. 21-ranked Hurricanes improved their record to 6-2 on the season, while the Golden Panthers fell to 3-7.

Miami won all three doubles matches to claim the point. At No. 1, the 52nd ranked duo of Abby Smith and Igna DeVilliers defeated the Golden Panthers Mei Ly and Bruna Discordia, 8-2.

UM then went on to win five of six singles matches played. Miami's top-heavy singles lineup boosted three ranked players, yet at No. 1, FIU's Desanka Jovanovic forced three sets before falling to No. 87-ranked Megan Bradley, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

The bright spot of the afternoon came at No. 2, where Ly came back after losing the first set to upset No. 94 Mari Toro in a tie breaker, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

The schedule doesn't get much easier for the Golden Panthers who host No. 41-ranked Virginia next Wednesday, Feb. 5 on the University Park courts.

Final: No. 21 Miami 6, FIU 1 Coral Gables, Fla. Doubles 1. (52) Smith/DeVilliers (UM) def. Discordia/Ly (FIU) 8-2. 2. Bradley/Toro (UM) def. Suard/Jovanovic (FIU) 8-3. 3. Applebaum/Robbins (UM) def. Duronio/Jonson (FIU) 8-0. Singles 1. (87) Megan Bradley (UM) def. Desanka Jovanovic (FIU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. 2. Mei Ly (FIU) def. (94) Mari Toro (UM) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4). 3. (77) Melissa Applebaum (UM) Bruna Discordia (FIU) 6-2, 6-0. 4. Sihem Bennacer (UM) def. Christine Suard (FIU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. 5. Staci Stevens (UM) def. Davina Duronio (FIU) 6-2, 6-2. 6. Sara Robbins (UM) def. Courtney Jonson (FIU) 6-2, 6-1.