Michigan
Tennessee
Streifler Clinches Upset Victory Over No. 23 Tennessee
2/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) clinched the win for the No. 25-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team as the Wolverines won three singles matches and the doubles point to earn a 4-3 victory over No. 23 Tennessee on Saturday (Feb. 21) at the Varsity Tennis Center.
With the victory, the Wolverines captured their first win against the Lady Vols in program history and improved their season record to a perfect 5-0. After winning 6-2 in the first set against the Lady Vols' Melissa Schaub, Streifler battled back from a 2-4 deficit in the second frame to win 6-4 and claim her first dual-meet victory of the season at the No. 6 position.
Also recording singles victories for the Wolverines were freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) in the No. 2 position and junior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) at No. 5. Exon dominated the Lady Vols' Ashley Robards in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, while Rutherford defeated Vicky Jones 6-0, 6-3 to extend her winning streak to eight matches.
The Wolverines claimed the early advantage in the meet with two victories in the doubles competition. Junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and freshman Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) dominated at the No. 1 spot, defeating Ashley Robards and Sabita Maharas 8-3. At the No. 3 position, senior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) teamed with Streifler to post a 8-5 victory over Schaub and Blakeley Griffith, extending their winning streak to seven matches.
The Wolverines return to action next Thursday (Feb. 26) in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a dual meet against Hawaii at 3 p.m. HST.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- Sabita Maharaj (UT) d. Michelle DaCosta, 6-4, 3-6, 10-7
No. 2 -- Elizabeth Exon (U-M) d. Ashley Robards, 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 -- Blakeley Griffifth (UT) d. Kavitha Tipirneni, 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 -- Majen Immink (UT) d. Chrissie Nolan, 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Victoria Jones, 6-0, 6-3
No. 6 -- Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Melissa Schaub, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -- DaCosta/Kara Delicata (U-M) d. Robards/Maharaj, 8-3
No. 2 -- Breanna Kray/Immink (UT) d. Rutherford/Tipirneni, 8-1
No. 3 -- Kim Plaushines/Streifler (U-M) d. Schaub/Griffifth, 8-5
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
