Wolverines Announce Challenging 2009-10 Schedule
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 4, 2009
• 2009-10 Michigan Women's Tennis Schedule
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Coming off a fifth consecutive appearance in the Big Ten Championship final and eighth straight trip to the NCAA postseason, University of Michigan head women's tennis coach Ronni Bernstein released today (Sept. 4) the Wolverines' challenging 2009-10 schedule. During the spring season, the Wolverines will take on eight teams that finished last year ranked in the top 25.
The 2010 campaign kicks off with the Wolverines hosting the Michigan Invitational, Jan. 16-18. U-M will welcome Tennessee, Washington and Miami (Fla.) to the Varsity Tennis Center as part of opening weekend action.
During the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Maize and Blue will welcome five opponents to Ann Arbor while traveling to Fayetteville Ark., for the ITA Expansion (Jan. 29-30) and the West Coast for a pair of matches. Highlighting the non-conference slate is a trip to Durham, N.C., to take on defending national champion Duke (Feb. 20).
The Big Ten Conference schedule sees Michigan play its first five matches on the road, before closing out with four of five at home. The 2010 Big Ten Championships will be held April 29-May 2 at the University of Iowa.
The fall season begins with the Wolverine Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Center, Oct. 2-4. The Wolverines also will participate in five other tournaments throughout the fall portion of their schedule.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Ronni Bernstein
On the Wolverines' 2009-10 schedule... "Each year, we try and play the very best teams in the country and this schedule reflects that. In order to improve and get better each day, we need to be challenged and our out-of-conference schedule will give us opportunities to pick up quality wins against the nation's best programs. We are excited to get back on the courts and look forward to another great year."
N O T E S
• The Wolverines will take on eight teams that ended the year ranked in the ITA Top 25, including six of the top ten - No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 6 Baylor, No. 7 Miami and No. 10 Tennessee.
• U-M finished the 2008-09 season ranked as the No. 18 team.
• Michigan could face two first-time opponents in Arkansas and Loyola Marymount.
• Michigan returns six letterwinners and welcomes three freshmen for the 2009-10 season.
• Head coach Ronni Bernstein is 37-13 (18-2 Big Ten) in her two years at the helm.
• Michigan and Northwestern have squared off for the Big Ten title for the past five years.
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
