2016 Season Preview: Women's Tennis
1/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 4, 2016
The 2015-16 Michigan women's tennis team
• Free Admission
• Social Media: Twitter (@umichtennis) | Facebook
2016 OUTLOOK
Michigan, which won its sixth straight Big Ten championship and its first conference tournament title since 1997 last season, must replace three-time All-American Emina Bektas and Sarah Lee, who rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, all-time in singles wins at U-M. Senior Ronit Yurovsky looks to fill Bektas' spot at the top of the lineup, with talented freshmen Brienne Minor and Kate Fahey filling in behind. Sophomore Alex Najarian is back after splitting time last season at No. 3 and No. 4, with sophomore Mira Ruder-Hook and junior Sara Remynse back from seasons at No. 5 and No. 6.
Michigan was plagued by injuries during the falls season as only Fahey, Minor, Ruder-Hook and sophomore Kara Hall competed at full strength for Michigan. Despite that, Michigan compiled a 36-27 singles record during tournament action.
The Wolverines look to retool their doubles lineups during the dual-match season with the departure of last year's senior class. Without everyone healthy during tournament play, head coach Ronni Bernstein will probably use the first few dual matches to try out new combinations to see what works best. During fall action, the Wolverines won 14 doubles matches with eight different combinations due to injuries.
Bernstein is in her ninth season at U-M and has won at least 20 matches in each of the last six campaigns.
The NCAA has adapted new rules this year for tennis, which will be in effect all year long. Doubles action will begin immediately with no warm-up, so fans are encouraged to arrive on time for matches. In addition, each doubles match will be one set to six, with a tiebreaker occurring at 6-all. The team that wins two-of-three matches will secure the doubles point. Following a five-minute intermission, singles action will begin with each match worth one point towards the team score. All singles matches will be played to completion. There will be no-ad scoring in both singles and doubles action.
STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH
Ronit Yurovsky -- Senior Ronit Yurovsky has been a mainstay at No. 2 for her first two seasons, also playing a few matches at No. 1. She looks to step into the top spot with the departure of Bektas. Yurovsky played in all three major fall tournaments and won five matches in the dual-match tuneup season. She has been an All-Big Ten selection in each of her three seasons and looks to continue her successful career this season as Michigan's lone senior and captain. She has appeared in the NCAA Singles Championship in each of her three seasons and began the fall ranked No. 19.
Brienne Minor -- Freshman Brienne Minor made a splash during the fall season, winning the ITA Midwest Regional Championships singles title to earn a berth to the national tournament. Minor compiled a 13-3 record this fall and looks to strengthen the top of the lineup for the Maize and Blue.
Kate Fahey -- Like Minor, freshman Kate Fahey put together a strong fall campaign to head into dual-match play with confidence. Bernstein has been working with Fahey on a more aggressive style of play, and it has paid off as Fahey made a run to the championship match of the final fall tournament of the season. Fahey won eight matches this fall and will provide a solid punch in the middle of the lineup for U-M.
Left: Ronit Yurovsky // Middle: Kate Fahey // Right: Brienne Minor
KEY COMPETITION
Sunday, Jan. 31 -- vs. Ohio State (Varsity Tennis Center)
The rivals will be facing each other in non-conference action to end the month of January. U-M swept the Buckeyes last season, winning, 5-2, in Columbus and grabbing a shutout win in the championship of the Big Ten Tournament.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Ronni Bernstein
On the fall season ... "I felt like we competed hard all fall. That is all you can ask. You can't always control the result, but you can control how hard you work and how hard you play every point. You can control your energy and how hard you compete.
"I am happy with the fall. We haven't had everyone playing because of injuries, so that is tough. As far as the kids we were able to put out on the court, I was really happy with them. Bri and Kate are freshmen but have been unbelievable. They have come in and really bought into the team thing. They work so hard every day and are almost setting the standard for the older girls. I am really happy where we are. We are just have to get everyone healthy and back on the court. I think we will be in good shape as we hit dual match play."
2015 RECAP
Michigan won its sixth straight Big Ten championship last season and picked up its first Big Ten Tournament title since 1997. U-M won a school-record 26 matches last year, with the senior class of Emina Bektas, Sarah Lee and Kristen Dodge ending their careers with 92 team wins. U-M advanced to its fourth Sweet 16 in the last five years, falling to Georgia in the third round of the tournament.
Players Mentioned
