Friday, January 9
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan
vs
Michigan Invitational
Wolverines Open Michigan Invitational with Pair of Wins
1/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team opened the first day of the Michigan Invitational on Friday (Jan. 9) with strong singles play against Lousiana State and doubles play against Eastern Michigan.
Michigan won four out of six singles matches against the Tigers, including straight-set wins by freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) and junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) at the top two positions. Exon handily defeated LSU's Amanda Mang (6-2, 6-1), while DaCosta earned a 6-4, 6-1 decision over Rocio Fantilli.
The Wolverines also collected wins from freshman Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) at No. 5 singles and junior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) at No. 6. Delicata defeated the Tigers' Camila Caliari in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-2, while Rutherford rebounded from a 2-6 loss in the first set to dominate 6-1, 6-0 in the final two frames.
The Tigers earned a pair of victories at the No. 3 and 4 positions, where Marina Chiarelli defeated senior Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) (4-6, 7-5, 6-1) and Jessica Ferguson defeated senior Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), 7-6(4), 7-6(7), respectively.
The Wolverines dominated Eastern Michigan in doubles competition, posting a perfect 3-0 mark while allowing only a combined six games against. Playing against EMU's Victoria Domina and Kendra Clark in the top position, Delicata and Tipirneni twice broke the Eagles tandem's serve, in the fourth and eighth games, en route to a 8-3 victory.
At the No. 2 position, the tandem of senior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) and freshman Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) cruised to an 8-3 decision against Ying Kansuthi and Amalia Lincaru. The Wolverine pair won the first three games to jump to an early lead in the match, and after EMU held serve in the fourth games, U-M won another three consecutive games to hold a 6-1 advantage. The Eagles staved off elimination in the 10th game, but with Streifler serving for the victory, the Wolverines made no mistake and swept the game for the win.
DaCosta and Exon rounded out the Wolverines' doubles competitors at the No. 3 position, using strong play at the net to shut out Eastern Michigan's Jessica Loose and Marijana Adzic 8-0. The Michigan pair used a combination of volleys and overheads to control play throughout the match.
The Wolverines will return to the court tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 10) to face Lousiana State in doubles at 10 a.m. and Georgia Tech in singles at 11:30 a.m. All matches will be held at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Following are Michigan's results from Friday:
Singles vs. Louisiana State
No. 1 -- Elizabeth Exon (U-M) d. Amanda Mang, 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Rocio Fantilli, 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 -- Marina Chiarelli (LSU) d. Kavitha Tipirneni, 4-6 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 -- Jessica Ferguson (LSU) d. Chrissie Nolan, 7-6(4), 7-6(7)
No. 5 -- Kara Delicata (U-M) d. Camila Caliari, 7-6(5), 6-2
No. 6 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Lauren Seaman, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
Doubles vs. Eastern Michigan
No. 1 -- Delicata/Tipirneni (U-M) d. Domina/Clark, 8-3
No. 2 -- Kim Plaushines/Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Kansuthi/Lincaru, 8-3
No. 3 -- DaCosta/Exon (U-M) d. Loose/Adzic, 8-0
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 647-4423
Michigan won four out of six singles matches against the Tigers, including straight-set wins by freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) and junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) at the top two positions. Exon handily defeated LSU's Amanda Mang (6-2, 6-1), while DaCosta earned a 6-4, 6-1 decision over Rocio Fantilli.
The Wolverines also collected wins from freshman Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) at No. 5 singles and junior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) at No. 6. Delicata defeated the Tigers' Camila Caliari in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-2, while Rutherford rebounded from a 2-6 loss in the first set to dominate 6-1, 6-0 in the final two frames.
The Tigers earned a pair of victories at the No. 3 and 4 positions, where Marina Chiarelli defeated senior Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) (4-6, 7-5, 6-1) and Jessica Ferguson defeated senior Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), 7-6(4), 7-6(7), respectively.
The Wolverines dominated Eastern Michigan in doubles competition, posting a perfect 3-0 mark while allowing only a combined six games against. Playing against EMU's Victoria Domina and Kendra Clark in the top position, Delicata and Tipirneni twice broke the Eagles tandem's serve, in the fourth and eighth games, en route to a 8-3 victory.
At the No. 2 position, the tandem of senior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) and freshman Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) cruised to an 8-3 decision against Ying Kansuthi and Amalia Lincaru. The Wolverine pair won the first three games to jump to an early lead in the match, and after EMU held serve in the fourth games, U-M won another three consecutive games to hold a 6-1 advantage. The Eagles staved off elimination in the 10th game, but with Streifler serving for the victory, the Wolverines made no mistake and swept the game for the win.
DaCosta and Exon rounded out the Wolverines' doubles competitors at the No. 3 position, using strong play at the net to shut out Eastern Michigan's Jessica Loose and Marijana Adzic 8-0. The Michigan pair used a combination of volleys and overheads to control play throughout the match.
The Wolverines will return to the court tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 10) to face Lousiana State in doubles at 10 a.m. and Georgia Tech in singles at 11:30 a.m. All matches will be held at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Following are Michigan's results from Friday:
Singles vs. Louisiana State
No. 1 -- Elizabeth Exon (U-M) d. Amanda Mang, 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Rocio Fantilli, 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 -- Marina Chiarelli (LSU) d. Kavitha Tipirneni, 4-6 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 -- Jessica Ferguson (LSU) d. Chrissie Nolan, 7-6(4), 7-6(7)
No. 5 -- Kara Delicata (U-M) d. Camila Caliari, 7-6(5), 6-2
No. 6 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Lauren Seaman, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
Doubles vs. Eastern Michigan
No. 1 -- Delicata/Tipirneni (U-M) d. Domina/Clark, 8-3
No. 2 -- Kim Plaushines/Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Kansuthi/Lincaru, 8-3
No. 3 -- DaCosta/Exon (U-M) d. Loose/Adzic, 8-0
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 647-4423
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient: Julia Fliegner
Wednesday, May 14
2023-24 Year In Review: Women's Tennis B1G Champions
Monday, June 24
Special Senior Class Anchoring Special U-M Women's Tennis Season
Wednesday, May 15
2022-23 Year in Review: Women's Tennis Big Ten Champions
Monday, July 03
