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College Commitment
Fall Signing Week '09: Mira to the Commodores
by Ali Jones, 10 November 2009

Five star Maria Lauren Mira and Virginia freshman Erin Vierra were locked in a four-hour battle of skills and wills at the 2009 Claycourts Nationals in Memphis.

Mira upset Vierra 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-3, sat down and was back on court an hour later to face Blue Chip Elizabeth Begley (who has committed to Texas).

That day was just destined for long, tough matches. Mira and Begley stretched theirs to two hours.

For the third set, an exhausted Mira had to quickly change her game plan and decided to serve and volley, a tactic almost unheard of these days, particularly on clay.

She did herself proud, won three games, but eventually fell to Begley, 4-6,7-5,6-3. Winning those three games with legs that had been running for six hours made Mira realize that she could actually employ serving and volleying with success. She finished the tournament 4-2.

Mira, with her grit, determination, and yes, that serve-and-volley game will head back to Tennessee next fall to wear the black and gold of the Vanderbilt Commodores.

"I chose Vanderbilt based on the following factors: the small student population, its academic excellence and topnotch tennis program with a great coaching staff and its beautiful campus in the heart of Nashville," Mira said. "In addition, I also wanted to stay in the SEC."