Michigan
Wolverine Invitational
Yaftali, Doubles Pair Win Titles at Wolverine Invitational
10/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team continued its tradition of excellence at the sixth annual Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 1-3), as the Maize and Blue claimed an overall crown in one singles flight and the title in the doubles bracket Sunday afternoon (Oct. 3) at the Varsity Tennis Center. Competing in her first career tournament at Michigan, junior transfer Nina Yaftali (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) took home top honors in the 16-player "Maize" singles flight, while the tandem of senior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) and junior Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) captured the championship in the 32-team doubles bracket.
Yaftali stormed through her bracket, posting straight-set victories in the first three rounds of competition. Yaftali completed her title quest with a comeback win over Xavier's Kristen Clary, 3-6, 6-2, 10-3. Sophomore Lindsey Goldstein (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) went 3-1 in the bracket, claiming third place with a 6-3, 6-1 decision over top seed Sarah Andrews of Michigan State in the consolation bracket.
Freshman Allie Shafner (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) also had a great start to her U-M career, as she won her first three matches in the "Blue" singles flight. Shafner's quest at the overall title was halted by second-seeded Kerri Thompson of Michigan State, who earned a 6-2, 6-2 decision in the final.
Freshman Monica Sly (Belleair, Fla./Shorecrest Preparatory School) picked up a victory in her first career match in the "Maize" singles flight, dominating Bowling Green's Andrea Volle, 6-2, 6-0, to advance. After a quarterfinal defeat, Sly split a pair of matches in the consolation bracket.
The U-M doubles tandem of Rutherford and Streifler posted wins in their first two matches, setting the stage for a semifinal showdown against teammates Goldstein and Sly, who also earned a pair victories in the first two rounds. Experience beat out youth, as Rutherford and Streifler earned an 8-1 victory. The pair then rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat Western Michigan's Carrie Jeanmaire and Reedhina Parekh 8-6 in the championship match.
Shafner and Yaftali also competed together in doubles, going 1-1 in the main bracket before posting two straight wins in consolation play.
Three U-M players will depart Ann Arbor this upcoming week to compete in the ITA All-American Championships (Oct. 5-10) in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Senior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and sophomore Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodridge HS) begin singles qualifying on Tuesday (Oct. 5), while DaCosta and sophomore Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) will team together in the main draw doubles competition beginning on Thursday (Oct. 7).
The Wolverines return to the court on Oct. 21-26 at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships in Minneapolis, Minn.
Following are U-M's individual results:
Blue Singles Flight
Allie Shafner
First Round -- d. Maria Calbeto (Marquette), 6-1, 5-7, 15-13
Quarterfinals -- d. Lauren Clary (Xavier), 6-2, 6-2
Semifinals -- d. Debra Streifler (Michigan), 6-4, 6-7(2), 10-7
Finals -- 1. Keri Thompson (Michigan State), 6-2, 6-2
Finished with a 3-1 record
Debra Streifler
First Round -- d. Jill Klauck (Cincinnati), 6-0, 6-1
Quarterfinals -- d. Christine Bader (Michigan State), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Semifinals -- l. Allie Shafner (Michigan), 6-4, 6-7(2), 10-7
Consolation -- 1. Rattiya Hiranrat (Western Michigan), 6-3, 6-4
Finished with a 2-2 record
Leanne Rutherford
First Round -- 1. Rattiya Hiranrat (Western Michigan), 6-3, 6-2
Consolation -- d. Erin Watkins (Marquette), 6-4, 6-4
Consolation -- 1. Ashley Jakupcin (Bowling Green), 7-6(1), 2-6, 12-10
Finished with a 1-2 record
Maize Singles Flight
Monica Sly
First Round -- d. Andrea Volle (Bowling Green), 6-2, 6-0
Quarterfinals -- 1. Sarah Andrews (Michigan State), 5-7, 7-5, 10-3
Consolation -- 1. Noriko Saruta (Western Michigan), 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
Consolation -- d. Lindsay Brown (Cincinnati), 6-1, 6-1
Finished with a 2-2 record
Nina Yaftali
First Round -- d. Emily Tuchscherer (Xavier), 6-4, 6-1
Quarterfinals -- d. Noriko Saruta (Western Michigan), 6-2, 7-6(4)
Semifinals -- d. Sarah Andrews (Michigan State), 6-1, 6-2
Finals -- d. Kristen Clary (Xavier), 3-6, 6-2, 10-3
Finished with a 4-0 record
Lindsey Goldstein
First Round -- d. Dominika Dabrowski (Marquette), 6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinals -- d. Karen Gustafson (Michigan State), 6-1, 6-4
Semifinals -- 1. Kristen Clary (Xavier), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Consolation -- d. Sarah Andrews (Michigan State), 6-3, 6-1
Finished with a 3-1 record
Doubles Flight
Rutherford/Streifler
First Round -- Bye
Second Round -- d. Meister/Nussbaum (Bowling Green), 8-4
Quarterfinals -- d. Schnitzer/Walasek (Michigan State), 8-1
Semifnals -- d. Goldstein/Sly (Michigan), 8-1
Finals -- d. Jeanmaire/R. Parekh (Western Michigan), 8-6
Finished with a 4-0 record
Goldstein/Sly
First Round -- Bye
Second Round -- d. Schoenberger/Romer (Bowling Green), 8-3
Quarterfinals -- d. L. Clary/Bauer (Xavier), 8-5
Semifinals -- 1. Rutherford/Streifler (Michigan), 8-1
Consolation -- 1. Andrews/Thompson (Michigan State), 8-3
Finished with a 2-2 record
Shafner/Yaftali
First Round -- Bye
Second Round -- d. Liu/Brown (Cincinnati), 8-1
Quarterfinals -- 1. Jeanmaire/R. Parekh (Western Michigan), 9-8
Consolation -- d. Calbeto/Bonnelly (Marquette), 8-5
Consolation -- d. L. Clary/Bauer (Xavier), 9-8
Finished with a 3-1 record
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
