Wolverines Roll Past Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

Tuesday, March 23

East Lansing, Mich.

6:00 PM

Michigan

Michigan State

Wolverines Roll Past Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

3/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 19 University of Michigan women's tennis team rebounded after giving up the doubles point to post six singles victories and record a 6-1 win at Michigan State on Tuesday (March 23). The win gave U-M half a point in the spring Pontiac Challenge Cup competition between the Wolverines and Spartans.

The Wolverines (10-1, 1-0 Big Ten) gave up the doubles point for the first time this season, earning only one victory in the doubles competition. Junior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) and senior Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) claimed U-M's lone win, defeating the Spartans' Jessica Baron and Pascale Schnitzer 8-3 at the No. 3 position.

Michigan responded to the early deficit by dominating in the singles competition, winning all six positions in straight sets. Junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) reached a prestigious milestone with her win at the No. 1 position, defeating Keri Thompson 6-4, 7-5 to earn her 50th career singles victory at Michigan.

The Wolverines will host a pair of Big Ten dual meets this weekend when they face Penn State on Saturday (March 27) and Ohio State on Sunday (March 28). Both matches are slated for 11 a.m. at the Varsity Tennis Center.

Following are match-by-match results:

Singles
No. 1 -- Michelle DaCosta (U-M) d. Keri Thompson, 6-4, 7-5
No. 2 -- Elizabeth Exon (U-M) d. Caroline Lay, 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 -- Kavitha Tipirneni (U-M) d. Shelley Brady, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 -- Chrissie Nolan (U-M) d. Sarah Andrews, 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Pascale Schnitzer, 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 -- Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Jessica Baron, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 -- Lay/Thompson (MSU) d. #30 DaCosta/Kara Delicata, 8-3
No. 2 -- Andrews/Brady (MSU) d. #32 Kim Plaushines/Streifler, 8-6
No. 3 -- Tipirneni/Rutherford (U-M) d. Baron/Schnitzer, 8-3

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423