Eye on the U

Hurricanes' women's tennis continues to flourish as coaches, freshman win ITA awards

The UM women's tennis team, ranked sixth in the nation, will meet No. 11 Northwestern at 6 p.m. Friday in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA National Championships in Urbana, Ill.

It's the eighth consecutive season that the Canes have advanced to the Round of 16.

On Tuesday, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its regional award winners, and UM coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews -- already inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame -- earned Coach of the Year for the Southeast Region.

Hurricanes assistant Alex Santos earned Assistant Coach of the Year for the Southeast Region.

And freshman Stephanie Wagner, UM's No. 1 player, earned Rookie of the Year.

All three will be eligible for the same awards on the national level.

Yaroshuk-Tews' teams are always top-notch, and this one is no different. What's especially gratifying is that all eight players will return next season.

"If we don't get to the final 16 I'm not happy,'' Yaroshuk-Tews said Tuesday. "I make that known with my staff. ...To get to the Sweet 16 is tough and it's grueling, but with this talent, this is where they should be.''

The coach said her players' goal at the beginning of the season was to get at least to the semifinal of this year's nationals. Last year they lost to Florida in the quarters.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

 

 

Wednesday practice report: OT Seantrel Henderson is back, but LB Eddie Johnson...

Very quick notes before I run to meeting.

Just finished with Al Golden and the first 15 minutes of Miami Hurricanes football practice.

Rumors are rampant that there is some type of situation going on with redshirt freshman linebacker Eddie Johnson, who just happens to be a co-first-team outside linebacker with Thurston Armbrister. I'm hearing there is something to those rumors, but I don't want to report anything until it's confirmed -- if it's confirmed.

Golden said Johnson was inside the Hecht Athletic Center and would be coming out shortly. He was not out there during our viewing. We asked about his status and Golden said his status was the same. "Nothing has changed,'' Golden said.

If Johnson's status is in jeopardy, then it appears Armbrister would be the starter, with true freshman Gabe Terry as the backup -- at least that's what the depth chart says. Johnson is listed as 6-1 and 230 pounds. He is from Atlanta, Ga.

* Golden confirmed that cornerback Vernon Davis left the team. "There was no problem,'' Golden said. "He asked for a release and we released him. That's it.''

Davis' high school coach told our Manny Navarro yesterday that Davis was heading to West Virginia to play for the Mountaineers.

* Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson was back at practice today. He has been cleared to play, Golden told us.

*Also cleared to practice for the first time in a long time (maybe all camp) is defensive lineman Cory King.

*We didn't see any players in yellow (limited) jerseys or red (no-contact) jerseys today. That's good news as far as injuries.

* Golden said between 60-65 players will be on the travel roster for Boston College. He will finalize that probably by "Sunday or Monday."

* Golden said cornerback Brandon McGee had his best day of practice during fall camp on yesterday.

* School starts today for the Hurricanes.

"The grind is over,'' Golden said, noting that the players are happy they have off from practice tomorrow. "The grind is over but the process endures. Stay to it. Don't worry about the outside.''

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN