Friday, November 7
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan
vs
ITA National Indoor Championships
Wolverines Advance to ITA Indoors Consolation Semis
11/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team's representatives -- freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) and juniors Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) -- rebounded from a tough first round by winning their consolation matches on Friday (Nov. 7) at the ITA National Indoor Championships. The Wolverines are hosting the prestigious tournament at the Varsity Tennis Center.
In singles competition, Exon earned a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory in her first consolation match, upsetting Texas A&M's Jessica Roland, who is ranked 36th in the preseason ITA women's NCAA Division I singles poll. The Wolverine freshman advanced into the consolation semifinals after receiving a bye in her next match when both players on the other side of the bracket withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
DaCosta and Rutherford also advanced into the consolation semifinal round after defeating Southern Nazarene's Nikkita Fountain and Larikah Russell 8-4. The Michigan pair jumped to an early 2-0 lead by breaking Southern Nazarene's serve in the first game and holding their own. Michigan exchanged several games with the Crimson Storm before breaking their serve for a second time to gain the three-game advantage. After winning the next game to put themselves ahead 7-3, the Wolverines battled to deuce twice but could not seal it up and dropped the game. With Rutherford serving, the Michigan pair quickly jumped to a 40-love advantage, and after giving up a point, clinched the win when DaCosta smashed an overhead from the net.
The ITA National Indoor Championships run through Sunday (Nov. 9) at the Varsity Tennis Center. Saturday's third day of competition will kick off with consolations semifinals at 9 a.m. and will be immediately followed the championship bracket singles semifinals. Men's and women's doubles semifinals are slated to begin around 1 p.m. followed by the men's and women's doubles finals.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
In singles competition, Exon earned a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory in her first consolation match, upsetting Texas A&M's Jessica Roland, who is ranked 36th in the preseason ITA women's NCAA Division I singles poll. The Wolverine freshman advanced into the consolation semifinals after receiving a bye in her next match when both players on the other side of the bracket withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
DaCosta and Rutherford also advanced into the consolation semifinal round after defeating Southern Nazarene's Nikkita Fountain and Larikah Russell 8-4. The Michigan pair jumped to an early 2-0 lead by breaking Southern Nazarene's serve in the first game and holding their own. Michigan exchanged several games with the Crimson Storm before breaking their serve for a second time to gain the three-game advantage. After winning the next game to put themselves ahead 7-3, the Wolverines battled to deuce twice but could not seal it up and dropped the game. With Rutherford serving, the Michigan pair quickly jumped to a 40-love advantage, and after giving up a point, clinched the win when DaCosta smashed an overhead from the net.
The ITA National Indoor Championships run through Sunday (Nov. 9) at the Varsity Tennis Center. Saturday's third day of competition will kick off with consolations semifinals at 9 a.m. and will be immediately followed the championship bracket singles semifinals. Men's and women's doubles semifinals are slated to begin around 1 p.m. followed by the men's and women's doubles finals.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
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