Michigan
South Carolina
Strong Singles Play Sends Michigan Past South Carolina
2/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 34-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team notched five singles matches and swept the doubles competition en route to a 6-1 victory over No. 47 South Carolina on Sunday (Feb. 8) at the Varsity Tennis Center.
U-M (4-0) gained the early lead by sweeping the doubles matches to collect the extra point. Senior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) and sophomore Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) extended their winning streak to five matches at the No. 3 position. The Wolverine pair broke serve twice in the first four games in their match against Miranda Gutierrez and Ayako Suzuki and again in the 12th game to earn the 8-4 victory.
The Wolverines captured first-set victories in five matches to lead the singles competition early. Freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS) and seniors Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) and Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) all notched straight-set wins to clinch the team victory for Michigan. Exon and Tipirneni each dominated throughout their matches to post 6-2, 6-2 decisions at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Nolan did not lead in the first set against the Gamecocks' Gutierrez at the No. 4 spot until late in the set when she took the 6-5 advantage before clinching the set in the tiebreaker.
Also collecting singles wins for the U-M were junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School), who battled through three sets at the No. 1 and 5 positions, repsectively. Playing on adjacent courts, the Wolverine juniors produced similar results, each dropping the second set 3-6 before rallying in the third to win the final three games and capture the match victory. Both players are also undefeated in dual-meet action.
Michigan will take a short break before wrapping up its five-meet homestand on Saturday, Feb. 21, with an 11 a.m. dual meet against Tennessee at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Danielle Wiggins, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
No. 2 -- Elizabeth Exon (U-M) d. Christyn Lucas, 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 -- Kavitha Tipirneni (U-M) d. Laura Ganzer, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 -- Chrissie Nolan (U-M) d. Miranda Gutierrez, 7-6, 6-2
No. 5 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Fallon Koon, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
No. 6 -- Justine Walsh (USC) d. Debra Streifler, 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -- DaCosta/Kara Delicata (U-M) d. Ganzer/Lucas, 8-3
No. 2 -- Rutherford/Tipirneni (U-M) d. Wiggins/Wojdylo, 8-5
No. 3 -- Kim Plaushines/Streifler (U-M) d. Gutierrez/Suzucki, 8-4
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
