Michigan
Notre Dame
Wolverines Defeat Midwest Rival Notre Dame
2/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2016
» The Wolverines won the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
» Mira Ruder-Hook clinched the team victory with a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles.
» U-M won straight-set singles matches at No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: #8 Michigan 5, Notre Dame 2
Records: U-M (5-2), ND (4-3)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 20 -- vs. North Carolina (Varsity Tennis Center), Noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a battle of Midwest rivals on the tennis court, the eighth-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team posted a 5-2 victory over Notre Dame on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines won the doubles point and the first four singles matches in straight sets.
U-M won the top two matches to secure the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage heading into singles. Michigan won the first match to be completed, a commanding 6-1 victory by senior captain Ronit Yurovsky and freshman Kate Fahey at No. 2. The duo lost the opening point but went on to win the final six points for the victory. The team point was secured with a 6-4 victory by U-M's 26th-ranked duo of Mira Ruder-Hook and Brienne Minor over Quinn Gleason and Monica Robinson at the top spot.
In singles, Michigan won four straight-set matches, while Notre Dame claimed victories in the final two matches on the court. Fahey made quick work at the third slot, dispatching of Allison Miller, 6-2, 6-1, to push the lead to 2-0 for the Wolverines. Freshman Teona Velehorschi kept the momentum in Michigan's favor, posting a 6-2, 6-3 win over Julie Vrabel at No. 6. Ruder-Hook posted the match clinching victory at No. 4, defeating Mary Closs in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(3).
Yurovsky increased Michigan's lead to 5-0 with a victory over Quinn Gleason at the top spot. Yurovsky rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the second set to force a tie-breaker. The 17th-ranked Yurovsky won the tie-breaker, 7-3, to secure the 6-1, 7-6(3) win.
With the result decided, the match at No. 5 was played as a 10-point tie-breaker for the third set. Notre Dame's Jane Fennelly tallied the Irish's only point in the match with 10-3 victory in the breaker, defeating Alex Najarian, 6-3, 5-7, 10-3. The Irish's Monica Robinson outlasted 14th-ranked Minor at No. 2, winning 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in three sets.
Michigan plays the second of two straight at the VTC next Saturday (Feb. 20), welcoming the University of North Carolina at noon. Admission is free.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 17 Ronit Yurovsky (U-M) d. Quinn Gleason (ND), 6-1, 7-6(3)
No. 2 -- Monica Robinson (ND) d. No. 14 Brienne Minor (U-M), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
No. 3 -- No. 112 Kate Fahey (U-M) d. Allison Miller (ND), 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 -- Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) d. Mary Closs (ND), 6-2, 7-6(3)
No. 5 -- Jane Fennelly (ND) d. Alex Najarian (U-M), 6-3, 5-7, 10-3
No. 6 -- Teona Velehorschi (U-M) d. Julie Vrabel (ND), 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- No. 26 Mira Ruder-Hook/Brienne Minor (U-M) d. Gleason/Robinson (ND), 6-4
No. 2 -- Ronit Yurovsky/Kate Fahey (U-M) d. Fennelly/Miller (ND), 6-1
No. 3 -- Closs/Vrabel (ND) vs. Kara Hall/Alex Najarian (U-M), 5-4 abandoned
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-1, Singles 3-6-4-1-5-2
Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre
