Michigan
Tennessee
Michigan Blanked on Road by No. 18-Ranked Tennessee
2/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 29 University of Michigan women's tennis team suffered a 5-0 defeat to No. 18 Tennessee Sunday afternoon (Feb. 13) at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center. The Wolverines (3-4) fell below the .500 mark for the first time this season, as the Lady Volunteers (3-2) won the first two matches in doubles before claiming victories at the top four singles positions.
Tennessee doubles wins at No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, put the Lady Vols up 1-0 in the match. Senior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and sophomore Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) earned a big lead on Sabita Maharaj and Melissa Schaub, 7-2, before the match was abandoned to open up the court for singles action.
The Lady Vols sealed the team victory with three straight-set victories at No. 4, No. 2 and No. 1. Maharaj, ranked 50th, supplied Tennessee with the match-clinching win, posting a 6-4, 6-4 decision over No. 44 DaCosta at the top singles spot.
With the outcome decided, the two remaining matches on the courts were abandoned. Junior Nina Yaftali (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) was leading Ashley Robards 4-3 at No. 5 before the stoppage of play.
The Wolverines will next be in action on Saturday, Feb. 26, when they welcome Kentucky to the Varsity Tennis Center for a 2 p.m. match.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #50 Sabita Maharaj (UT) d. #44 Michelle DaCosta, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 -- Blakeley Griffifth (UT) d. Kara Delicata, 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 -- Bryce Marable (UT) d. #95 Elizabeth Exon, 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 -- #107 Victoria Jones (UT) d. Leanne Rutherford, 6-4, 6-0
No. 5 -- Ashley Robards (UT) vs. Nina Yaftali, 3-4 (abandoned)
No. 6 -- Melissa Schaub (UT) vs. Debra Streifler, 6-1 (abandoned)
Doubles
No. 1 -- Schaub/Maharaj (UT) vs. #15 DaCosta/Delicata, 2-7 (abandoned)
No. 2 -- Ghizela Schutte/Robards (UT) d. Allie Shafner/Rutherford, 8-5
No. 3 -- Marable/Griffifth (UT) d. Exon/Yaftali, 8-4
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2, Singles 4-2-1-3
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
