Holding Serve with Michelle DaCosta
5/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Asshe preparesfor her final collegiate tennis event, the NCAA Doubles Championships (May 24-28), senior co-captain Michelle DaCosta has one last goal to accomplish before she leaves Ann Arbor: to be an NCAA All-American. DaCosta and partner Kara Delicata, ranked 20th inthe most recentITA national doubles rankings, have paired together for a team-best 24-10 record in 2004-05. They tallied an 18-6 mark in dual match action and upset a pair of No. 1-ranked tandems during the year. DaCosta and Delicata are just the secondduo in Michigan history to qualify for the NCAA Championship twice in their career.
Two weeks ago, DaCosta also became just the second student-athlete in U-M women's tennis history to be named to the All-Big Ten Conference team in all four seasons. DaCosta, who earned a pair of Big Ten Athlete of the Week citations during the regular season, completed her final season with a singles record of 16-18, including an 11-14 dual match mark at No. 1.
DaCosta, ranked 71st in the ITA national singles rankings,finished her careerin eighth place on Michigan's all-time singles wins list with a record of 74-63. Sheenters her final week of competition witha career doubles mark of 80-55.
In addition to her spectacular accomplishments on the tennis court, DaCosta has also earned several accolades for her achievements in the classroom.A biopsychology and cognitive science major, DaCosta has been named to the Academic All-Big Ten team the past two seasons and has earned the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award all four years she has been at Michigan. She will earn her bachelor of science degree at the end of December and plans to apply for medical school in the near future.
DaCosta took some time off from studying for the MCATs to discuss her most memorable moments at Michigan, her role as a team captain, and her relationship with Delicata.
On how she got started playing tennis
"My parents taught my older brother to play. I was very competitive with him, so I wanted to learn as well. I cant beat my brother now, so my parents dont let us play each other anymore."
On her tennis idols growing up
"I was a big fan of Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. I really liked the way Steffi carried herself on and off the court. I like Martinas style of play."
On being elected co-captain her senior season
"It means a lot. Just going through our program and seeing how our team has changed, Leanne (Rutherford) and I just want to leave a good impression and really want to be leaders out there. I do feel extra pressure to be a leader because our team is so young and they havent been here as long as we have."
On playing at No. 1 doubles with Kara Delicata
"Weve had a great time and I just love playing with Kara. We really have a lot of goals set for our doubles this year and I feel like weve worked really hard throughout the season to try and accomplish them."
On why the pair has achieved so much success
"I think were both pretty relaxed on the court, so neither of us gets too worked up if we miss a shot. Im pretty aggressive at the net, while Kara (Delicata) is able to penetrate with her ground strokes. We just fit together because she is able to set me up all the time. She also has a really big serve."
On her most memorable tennis moment at Michigan
"We were playing Ohio State at home my freshman year.OSU was ahead of us in the Big Ten standings and the score was tied at 3-3. I won the final match in a three-setter to get the victory for our team. That was a really important win for me, being from Ohio."
On whether she likes when the whole match comes down to her
"I really like it. When I watch my teammates from the sidelines, Im wishing I was the last one out there playing. Im pretty confident that I can handle that type of pressure."
On earning All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten awards
"Those two things have always been goals of mine. Theyre really important to me. I try to have good time-management skills. As far as All-Big Ten, I just try to be really competitive during the Big Ten season, knowing that every match is important and that every opponent is good."
On what she likes most about going to school at Michigan
"I like the balance between the tennis program and the experience of Ann Arbor."
On her plans for after graduation
"Im taking the MCATs in August and then Ill apply to medical school next year. I want to be an OBGYN and deal with fertility."
On what she will miss most about playing tennis at U-M
"Im going to miss playing home dual matches, especially during the Big Ten season. I feel like thats when we have the most fans out and I just love playing indoors at our facility. Our fans are really great."
On whether she prefers to play singles or doubles more
"I just like doubles because its a fast-paced game and you get to really show off your skills. The points seem more interesting to me. I feel like Kara (Delicata) and I are a great team and we really excel in it. I think that when we play well, we can beat anybody in the nation."
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