Taney, Tatsuno Excel on Final Day of Michigan Invitational

Monday, January 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

Michigan Invitational (Day 3)

Taney, Tatsuno Excel on Final Day of Michigan Invitational

1/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Day 3)
Scoring: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Match: Friday, Jan. 23 -- vs. Marquette (Varsity Tennis Center), 4 p.m.

Photo Gallery | Video Report

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team concluded play at the seventh annual Michigan Invitational on Monday (Jan. 19) at the Varsity Tennis Center, claiming wins in two of three doubles matches before tallying three singles victories against No. 24 Tennessee. The Wolverines finished the three-day event with combined records of 8-13 in singles and 6-3 in doubles.

Sophomore Rika Tatsuno(Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) completed the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record in singles with her commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over Rosalia Alda. Tatsuno, the singles champion according to the point system, carries a team-best 9-3 overall record and has won five straight matches dating back to Nov. 9. She knocked off two nationally-ranked opponents over the weekend.

Junior Tania Mahtani(Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) found herself in an early hole after dropping the first set to Natalie Pluskota but stormed back to win in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. It was Mahtani's first victory in her last six tries.

Sophomore Whitney Taney(Edina, Minn./Edina HS) also struggled early but battled back to beat Maria Sorbello in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. It was Taney's first win since Nov. 7.

Taney came away with a perfect 3-0 record in doubles after teaming with Tatsuno for a thrilling 9-8(3) triumph over Duke's Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka. The U-M pair holds a career record of 9-7.

Senior Lindsey Howard(Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin HS) also finished the event with an unblemished 3-0 doubles mark. She teamed with freshman Michelle Sulahian(Valley Glen, Calif./Campbell Hall HS) to shut out Tennessee's Katie Lee and Samantha Orlin, 8-0. It was Howard and Sulahian's first career match as a doubles tandem.

The Wolverines open the 2009 dual-match season this Friday (Jan. 23) when they welcome Marquette to the Varsity Tennis Center for a 4 p.m. match. Live scoring and video will be available on MGoBlue.com.

Following are match-by-match results from Day 3 of the Michigan Invitational:

SINGLES

1. #21 Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt) d. #48 Amanda Granson (Duke), 6-4, 6-2
2. #43 Ellah Nze (Duke) d. #84 Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
3. Melissa Mang (Duke) d. #80 Amanda Preeg (Vanderbilt), 6-3, 6-3
4. #56 Reka Zsilinszka (Duke) d. Heather Steinbauer (Vanderbilt), 6-2, 6-2
5. Jessi Robinson (Duke) d. Hannah Blatt (Vanderbilt), 6-2, 6-1

1. #92 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee) d. Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan), 6-2, 6-2
2. Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) d. Rosalia Alda (Tennessee), 6-1, 6-4
3. Tania Mahtani (Michigan) d. Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee), 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Whitney Taney (Michigan) d. Maria Sorbello (Tennessee), 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Zsofia Zubor (Tennessee) d. Michelle Sulahian (Michigan), 6-3, 6-4
6. #77 Samantha Orlin (Tennessee) d. Lindsey Howard (Michigan), 7-6(5), 6-2
7. Jennifer Meredith (Tennessee) d. Kari Wig (Michigan), 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES

1. Caitlin Whoriskey/Zsofia Zubor (Tennessee) d. Heather Steinbauer/Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt), 8-3
2. Rosalia Alda/Maria Sorbello (Tennessee) d. Chelsea Preeg/Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt), 8-4
3. Jennifer Meredith/Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee) d. Hannah Blatt/Catherine Newman (Vanderbilt), 8-3

4. #20 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (Duke) d. #51 Tania Mahtani/Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan), 9-7
5. Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) d. Ellah Nze/Reka Zsilinszka (Duke), 9-8(3)
6. Lindsey Howard/Michelle Sulahian (Michigan) d. Katie Lee/Samantha Orlin (Tennessee), 8-0

FINAL POINT STANDINGS

Singles

 1. Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) - 20 points 2. Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan) - 16 points Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee) - 16 points Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt) - 16 points 5. Melissa Mang (Duke) - 15 points 6. Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt) - 14 points 7. Ellah Nze (Duke) - 13 points 8. Reka Zsilinszka (Duke) - 11 points 9. Zsofia Zubor (Tennessee) - 9 points 10. Jessi Robinson (Duke) - 8 points

Doubles

 1. Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (Duke) - 8 points 2. Rosalia Alda/Maria Sorbello (Tennessee) - 7 points Jennifer Meredith/Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee) - 7 points 4. Lindsey Howard/Whitney Taney (Michigan) - 6 points 5. Tania Mahtani/Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan) - 4 points Heather Steinbauer/Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt) - 4 points Caitlin Whoriskey/Zsofia Zubor (Tennessee) - 4 points 8. Ellah Nze/Jessi Robinson (Duke) - 3 points Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) - 3 points 10. Lindsey Howard/Michelle Sulahian (Michigan) - 2 points Catherine Newman/Chelsea Preeg (Vanderbilt) - 2 points Michelle Sulahian/Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) - 2 points

The point system for the Michigan Invitational is as follows:

Singles
Win at No. 1 position -- 8 points
Win at No. 2 position -- 7 points
Win at No. 3 position -- 6 points
Win at No. 4 position -- 5 points
Win at No. 5 position -- 4 points
Win at No. 6 position -- 3 points
Win at No. 7 position -- 2 points
Win at No. 8 position -- 1 point

Doubles
Win at No. 1 position -- 4 points
Win at No. 2 position -- 3 points
Win at No. 3 position -- 2 points
Win at No. 4 position -- 1 point

Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 645-0045