Weekly Release #10
4/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Friday, April 5 -- vs. Miami, Fla. (Varsity Tennis Center), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 -- vs. Ohio State (Varsity Tennis Center), 11 a.m.
Sunday, April 7 -- vs. Penn State (Varsity Tennis Center), 11 a.m.
Sunday, April 14 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 11 a.m. CDT
Saturday, April 20 -- vs. Purdue (Varsity Tennis Center), 11 a.m.
Three-Match Home Weekend
The University of Michigan women's tennis team (7-8, 1-4 Big Ten) begins a three-match homestand Friday afternoon (April 5, 1:30 p.m.) against the No. 26-ranked Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines return to Big Ten Conference action over the weekend, hosting No. 32-ranked Ohio State Saturday (April 6) and Penn State Sunday (April 7) starting at 11 a.m. each day.
Five of Final Six Matches at Home
U-M completes the 2002 dual match season with five home contests in its final six matches. The Wolverines have compiled a 4-4 record at the Varsity Tennis Center this season and are 28-25 all-time at the six-year-old facility. The final road match of the season will take place next Sunday (April 14) when Michigan travels to Iowa City, Iowa, for a matchup with the Hawkeyes.
Wolverines and Hurricanes
This will be the first-ever trip to Ann Arbor for the Miami Hurricanes. Michigan and Miami are meeting for the seventh time on the hardcourt, with each school having won three matches. The Wolverines defeated the Hurricanes twice during the 1996-97 season, winning 6-3 in Coral Gables, Fla., and again 5-3 in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship held in Nashville, Tenn. Miami avenged the losses a year later, winning a 6-3 match during the 1997-98 season, the last time the two schools met on the court.
Michigan vs. Ohio State
This will be the 37th meeting between the Wolverines and Buckeyes. Michigan has an impressive 24-12 edge in the all-time series against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have won four straight matches against the Wolverines. OSU ended an 11-match losing streak to U-M during the 1998-99 season, followed up with a pair of victories in 1999-2000 and won a 4-3 match last year in Columbus. The Wolverines have a 1-2 record against the Buckeyes at the Varsity Tennis Center (includes a 4-1 loss in the 2000 Big Ten Championship held in Ann Arbor).
Wolverines and Nittany Lions
This will be the 16th matchup between Michigan and Penn State, with the Wolverines holding a 12-3 edge all-time. PSU ended a 10-match losing streak to U-M last season, winning a 5-2 match in State College, Pa. The Wolverines are 10-1 against the Nittany Lions under the direction of head coach Bitsy Ritt, with all 11 matches being contested since Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference. Michigan has a 5-1 record in matches played in Ann Arbor, including a 1-0 mark at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Rutherford Holds Lead in Wins
Freshman Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) holds a slight edge on her teammates in victories heading into the three-match week. Rutherford tops the squad with 14 singles victories (14-10 mark) and is tied for the lead with eight dual match wins (8-7 record). She has added a 9-7 mark against regional opponents during her initial campaign and is 2-3 against conference opposition. Rutherford split two matches last weekend at No. 4 singles, beating Michigan State's Mandy Caldemeyer (7-5, 6-1) and losing to Wake Forest's Karin Coetzee (6-0, 6-3).
Nolan Nears 35th Career Singles Win
Sophomore Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) enters the three-match week drawing closer to the 15 singles wins this season. Nolan has a 13-8 overall record after splitting two matches last week. She lost in three sets to Michigan State's Caroline Lay (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) but bounced back with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Maren Haus for the lone Wolverine point against Wake Forest. Nolan has collected victories in five of her last seven singles matches since moving to the No. 3 slot in the lineup and is 7-6 in dual match competition. She needs two victories to reach 35 in her career (33-19). Nolan and sophomore Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) have teamed at No. 3 doubles this season, compiling an impressive 10-4 overall mark and a 9-3 dual match record. Nolan is tied for third on the squad with 14 overall doubles victories (14-6), improving her career record to 32-18.
Plaushines Having Career-Best Season
Sophomore Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) is in the midst of her best statistical year with the Wolverines, contributing in both singles and doubles action. Plaushines has a career-high 10 singles victories (10-5 mark) and leads the team with a .667 winning percentage. She has compiled a 5-2 dual match record this year. She extended her career-best winning streak to five matches with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Michigan State's Kate Thomas (March 28) but had the streak stopped 6-3, 7-5 against No. 81-ranked Katie Martzolf of Wake Forest (March 31). Plaushines has an 18-13 career singles record and is 7-7 in dual match competition.
In doubles competition, Plaushines has held down the No. 2 slot in the lineup with both junior Jen Duprez (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach HS) and senior Jen Vaughn (Jefferson City, Mo./Lawrence HS). Plaushines and Duprez have a 9-5 overall record and are 6-3 in dual matches, while Plaushines and Vaughn are 1-1 together. Plaushines is tied for third on the team with a career-best 14 doubles wins this season (14-8). She has a 25-25 career doubles record.
Musgrove Seeking 50th Singles Victory
With a 48-28 career singles record, junior Joanne Musgrove (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich HS) heads into the three-match week looking to collect her 50th career singles victory. Musgrove is tied for second on the team with 13 overall victories (13-9) this season and is 6-6 in dual match competition. She has a 9-7 record against regional opponents this season.
Iowa Only Match on the Docket Next Week
The women's tennis team will play its only match of the week next Sunday (April 14, 11 a.m. CDT) against Iowa. The Wolverines and Hawkeyes will square off at the Klotz Outdoor Courts weather permitting. This will be the final road match of the season for the Wolverines leading up to Big Ten Championship (April 25-28) in Columbus, Ohio.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
