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

 

 

Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Al -- and the VT Hokies

Just walked out my front door to the most invigorating splash of cool air I've felt in a long time.

Of course, I've had my TV on for the past hour watching The Weather Channel for news on Hurricane Sandy and how it's affecting the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas.

Much of my family lives in New York, New Jersey and the surrounding states.

Coach Al Golden, who also grew up in New Jersey, told us his brother, Shaun Golden, "is the sheriff of Monmouth County'' in New Jersey.

"That's a shore community,'' Golden said. "So they're [going] a million miles an hour and my parents are back there and so is my older brother. They're expecting quite a bit. Clearly it's going to be a big one, so we're praying for those people and hopefully they'll come out of it OK.''

Meanwhile, in Blacksburg, Va., home of the Hokies, it's 37 degrees (feels like 31) and raining, with high winds.

The forecast for tomorrow  is snow and wind with a high of 37 and a low of 33.

We'll keep track of whether the Hokies alter their travel schedule for their Thursday-night game at Sun Life Stadium. Usually they would arrive Wednesday.

Either way, here's hoping that people keep safe during this "perfect'' storm that's about to hit.

Today, the Miami Hurricanes will have their weekly press conference that usually occurs on Tuesdays. Today would be considered a normal Wednesday for UM, because the game is being played two days earlier than usual.

Have a good day everyone.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN