Michigan
Illinois
Wolverines Outlast Fighting Illini in Close Big Ten Match
4/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The No. 38 University of Michigan women's tennis team closed out its Big Ten road trip with a 4-3 victory over No. 53 Illinois Sunday afternoon (April 10) at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Wolverines (9-9) came out on top in a close doubles competition and used straight-set victories at the bottom three singles positions to defeat the Fighting Illini (10-7, 4-2 Big Ten) and improve to 4-3 in conference play.
Illinois earned the early leg up in doubles with a quick 8-2 victory at No. 2, but Michigan's 21st-ranked tandem of senior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) and sophomore Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) evened things up with an 8-4 win over Cynthya Goulet and Emily Wang at No. 1. DaCosta and Delicata improve to 13-4 against dual match opposition, including a 6-1 record in the Big Ten.
For the second straight day, U-M's No. 3 pair of junior Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) and sophomore Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodridge HS) provided the decisive doubles victory, defeating Pavlina Akritas and Momei Qu 8-6. Streifler and Exon have won seven of the nine matches they have played together in 2005.
A trio of Wolverines rebounded from tough losses at Purdue yesterday (Saturday, April 9) and provided Michigan with crucial victories in singles action. Streifler got back on track with a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Wang at No. 6, while junior Nina Yaftali (Westlake Village, Calif./Westlake HS) took out Akritas 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5. Yafatli has torn through Midwest regional opposition since she has arrived on campus last fall, compiling a team-best 15-3 record.
Senior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) provided the clincher with victory at No. 4, defeating Brianna Knue 6-1, 6-2. With the win, Rutherford ties Mary MacTaggart (1981-84) for 13th place on U-Ms all-time singles wins list with 69.
The Wolverines close out their home schedule next Saturday (April 16) with an 11 a.m. match against Ohio State at the Varsity Tennis Center. Michigan will honor its two seniors, DaCosta and Rutherford, prior to the match against the Buckeyes.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #41 Cynthya Goulet (ILL) d. #53 Michelle DaCosta, 6-1, 7-6(6)
No. 2 -- Macall Harkins (ILL) d. Elizabeth Exon, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 -- Momei Qu (ILL) d. Kara Delicata, 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 -- Leanne Rutherford (U-M) d. Brianna Knue, 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 -- Debra Streifler (U-M) d. Emily Wang, 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 -- Nina Yaftali (U-M) d. Pavlina Akritas, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- #21 DaCosta/Delicata (U-M) d. Goulet/Wang, 8-4
No. 2 -- Harkins/Knue (ILL) d. Allie Shafner/Rutherford, 8-2
No. 3 -- Exon/Streifler (U-M) d. Akritas/Qu, 8-6
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-1-3, Singles 5-6-3-4-1-2
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
