Michigan
Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Qualifying/Main Draw
Michigan Continues to Advance at ITA Midwest Regional
10/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team completed the second day of action Friday (Oct. 22) at the 2004 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championships, with junior transfer Nina Yaftali (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) earning one of eight qualifying spots into the main draw singles competition, and two of four Wolverine doubles teams advancing to the round of 16 in main draw doubles play.
After a pair of straight-set victories Thursday (Oct. 21) to advance to the qualifying finals in the 64-player bracket, Yaftali had a bit of a tougher time against Illinois' Macall Harkins, dropping the first set, 4-6. However, Yaftali rebounded to take the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2, to clinch a spot in the main draw.
In doubles play, Yaftali teamed with sophomore Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodridge HS) for an 8-2 triumph over Michigan State's Jaylen Musselman and Marta Walasek in the first round. The U-M pair then defeated Northwestern's Feriel Esseghir and Jamie Peisel by a 9-7 score in the round of 32.
Senior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and sophomore Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) also earned a spot in the round of 16 with an 8-2 victory over Ohio State's Lindsay Bryan and Meredith Vincent in the second round. DaCosta and Delicata, the No. 1 seed in the 64-team draw, drew a first-round bye.
Senior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) and sophomore Lindsey Goldstein (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) dominated Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Traci Litscher and Margie Van Lieshout 8-1 in the first round of action, but they were ousted by the No. 5 seed, Cristelle Grier and Audra Cohen of Northwestern, 8-4 in the round of 32.
Junior Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) and freshman Allie Shafner (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) were eliminated from doubles play with an 8-1 loss to Michigan State's Christine Bader and Keri Thompson in the opening round.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
