Univ. of Miami (Florida) Team Page

URBANA, Ill. – The University of Miami’s Stephanie Wagner defeated San Jose State’s 54^th-ranked Klaudia Boczova in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Singles Championship on Wednesday at Illinois’ Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex.

Wagner, the ITA Southeast Rookie of the Year, dropped her first set to Boczova, 1-6. However, the Amberg, Germany native and 60^th-ranked player shook off her disappointment and bounced back, winning the second set, six games to four. In third set, Wagner built a 4-0 lead before eventually winning the match, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

“Steph showed an incredible amount of poise out there today,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She fought through some nerves early and was able to get a ‘W’ against a really strong first round opponent.”

Boczova, a native of Bratislava, Slovakia was named the WAC Player of the Year and helped lead the Spartans to their first conference title and NCAA team tournament appearance. The sophomore finished her spring season with a 16-4 singles record and is currently the nation’s 54^th-ranked player.

The win improved Wagner’s spring record to 22-8 and moved the freshman into the tournament’s second round where she will face Texas’ Breaunna Addison on Thursday. Match time is set for 9 a.m. ET.

Addison, the nation’s 31^st-ranked player, upset UNC’s No. 9-ranked Danielle Lao, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Like Wagner, Addison was named an ITA Rookie of the Year as she earned the award for the Texas Region. With her win on Wednesday, she improved her overall singles record to 27-6 on the season.

“Addison will be a tough test in the morning, but [Stephanie] will be ready,” Yaroshuk-Tews said.