Michigan
Tennessee
Wolverines Unable to Pull Upset Against No. 11 Tennessee
1/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team was unable to pull the upset Sunday afternoon (Jan. 26), losing a 4-3 match against No. 11 Tennessee at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. The Wolverines (2-1) remain winless against the Volunteers (1-0) in seven all-time matches.
After getting swept in doubles and falling behind 1-0 in the match, Michigan rallied in singles but the strength at the top half of the Tennessee lineup pulled out the team victory. Tammy Encina gave UT a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against junior Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) at No. 2. Fourth-ranked Vilmarie Castellvi moved the Lady Volunteers within a point of clinching the match with a 6-4, 6-0 win over 99th-ranked sophomore Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) at the top spot, and Melissa Schaub clinched Tennessee's home-opening victory with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against junior Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) at No. 3.
The Wolverines won the final three matches on the court to trim the final margin to a single point. The first victory came as sophomore Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) won a three-set match against Breanna Kray, claiming a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 4. Junior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) gained a team point at No. 5 as Crystal Cleveland withdrew from the match due to injury. U-M's final point of the match came as senior Joanne Musgrove (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich HS) defeated Claudia Farace by a 6-4, 6-1 score at No. 6.
Michigan looks to end the two-match road trip with a victory against No. 14 Kentucky tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 27, 1 p.m.) at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Complex in Lexington, Ky.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #4 Vilmarie Castellvi (UT) d. #99 Michelle DaCosta, 6-4, 6-0
No. 2 -- Tammy Encina (UT) d. Chrissie Nolan, 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 -- Melissa Schaub (UT) d. Kavitha Tipirneni, 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Breanna Kray, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
No. 5 -- Kim Plaushines (U-M) d. Crystal Cleveland, 3-4, retired (injury)
No. 6 -- Joanne Musgrove (U-M) d. Claudia Farace, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 -- #22 Castellvi/Schaub (UT) d. DaCosta/Rutherford, 8-5
No. 2 -- Kray/Encina (UT) d. Duprez/Plaushines, 8-2
No. 3 -- Cleveland/Majen Immink (UT) d. Nolan/Musgrove, 8-6
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
