Michigan
Purdue
Doubles Point Helps Michigan to Triumph Over Purdue
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team defeated Purdue by a 4-3 score Saturday (April 20) at the Varsity Tennis Center, moving within a victory of the .500 mark in conference play. The Wolverines (11-9, 4-5 Big Ten) won the doubles point and split the six singles matches against the Boilermakers (8-11, 4-5 Big Ten).
Freshmen Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) started Michigan's run to the doubles point with a dominating 8-3 victory over Missy Wright and Gretchen Haynor at No. 1. The Wolverines were able to secure the doubles point as junior Jen Duprez (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach HS) and sophomore Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) tallied an 8-6 victory against Lynsey Fick and Melissa Woods at No. 2. U-M completed the doubles sweep as sophomores Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) and Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) earned a close 8-6 win at No. 3, defeating Melissa Igbal and Lara Burgarello.
In singles Tipirneni used a little over an hour to pick up a big victory, winning 6-4, 6-2 against Igbal at the top spot. Nolan gave Michigan a 3-0 lead in the match as she claimed a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Woods at No. 3. The Boilermakers trimmed the deficit as Amy Walgenbach defeated junior Joanne Musgrove (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich HS) at No. 6, posting a 6-4, 6-3 win. DaCosta clinched the victory with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Gretchen at No. 2. Purdue won the final two matches on the court to tighten the final outcome to 4-3 as Burgarello and Shawna Zuccarini won three-set matches at the No. 4 and No. 5 singles slot, respectively.
The Wolverines conclude the 2002 dual match season tomorrow (Sunday, April 21) against Indiana at the Varsity Tennis Center. U-M will honor the efforts of senior Jen Vaughn (Jefferson City, Mo./Lawrence HS) prior to the 11 a.m. match with the Hoosiers.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- Kavitha Tipirneni (U-M) d. Melissa Igbal, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Gretchen Haynor, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 -- Chrissie Nolan (U-M) d. Melissa Woods, 6-4, 7-5
No. 4 -- Lara Burgarello (PU) d. Leanne Rutherford, 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-3
No. 5 -- Shawna Zuccarini (PU) d. Jen Duprez, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 -- Amy Walgenbach (PU) d. Joanne Musgrove, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- DaCosta/Rutherford (U-M) d. Missy Wright/Haynor, 8-3
No. 2 -- Duprez/Kim Plaushines (U-M) d. Lynsey Fick/Woods, 8-6
No. 3 -- Nolan/Tipirneni (U-M) d. Igbal/Burgarello, 8-6
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
