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

 

 

Weather forces Miami Hurricanes to practice in the Dolphins' indoor bubble

CANES IN THE BUBBLE

The Hurricanes moved their Saturday practice to the Miami Dolphins’ indoor practice facility in Davie.

Practice – closed to the public and media – was originally scheduled for 1:30 p.m., but was moved up to 1 p.m. “because of the weather conditions,’’ said UM director of communications Chris Yandle. “It rained in Miami all morning.’’

The university announced Saturday afternoon that it would be closing at 7 p.m. and would remain closed through Monday.

“We will resume operations Tuesday as of now,’’ Yandle said Saturday evening.

The Canes, who will open the season Sept. 1 at Boston College, are also scheduled for a Sunday practice session. Yandle said that session is obviously dependent on the weather as well.

SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST

Four Miami Hurricanes are among 312 seniors named to the 2013 Senior Bowl Watch List, game officials announced.

Senior running back Mike James, cornerback Brandon McGee, defensive tackle Darius Smith and safety Vaughn Telemaque are the UM representatives on the Senior Bowl’s inaugural watch list. The top 100 seniors in the nation will be invited to participate in the 2013 Senior Bowl, which is set for Jan. 26 at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN