Michigan
Illinois
On Senior Day, Underclassmen Shine in Win over Illinois
4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 24, 2016
» Michigan is now 15-0 when winning the doubles point, getting victories at No. 2 (Alex Najarian/Mira Ruder-Hook) and No. 3 (Ronit Yurovsky/Teona Velehorschi) today.
» Brienne Minor is now one win away from tying the school's all-time record for most singles wins from a freshman (32).
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: #10 Michigan 4, Illinois 0
Records: U-M (18-5, 10-1 Big Ten), Illinois (14-8, 8-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, April 29 -- Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals (East Lansing, Mich.), Time TBA
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team won the doubles point and got three straight-set victories in singles to defeat Illinois, 4-0, to close the regular season on Sunday (April 24) outside at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines finished tied for second in the Big Ten with Northwestern, winning at least 10 conference matches for the seventh consecutive year under head coach Ronni Bernstein.
Prior to the match, Michigan honored its lone senior, Ronit Yurovsky. Though Yurovsky's singles match did not finish -- she was up 7-6 (2), 2-2 when the match was clinched -- she did contribute to the team's doubles point, teaming with freshman Teona Velehorschi to win at the No. 3 spot, 6-1. The Wolverines secured the point moments later with a 6-2 victory at No. 2 from sophomores Alex Najarian and Mira Ruder-Hook.
Though it was Senior Day, it was the underclassmen that came through in singles. Freshman Brienne Minor got her 31st singles win of the season -- one shy of the school's freshman record -- defeating Illinois' Madie Baillon, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3, to put U-M up 2-0.
From there, Michigan made quick work of the Fighting Illini, winning the next two points within a matter of minutes. Velehorschi -- playing in just her 10th match of the season -- cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6, before Ruder-Hook clinched it with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph on the other side of the courts at No. 5. All the other matches were in progress and abandoned.
Michigan will turn its attention now to next week's Big Ten Tournament, which will be hosted by Michigan State. The Wolverines will be the third seed and play their first match on on Friday (April 29).
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 15 Ronit Yurovsky (U-M) vs. No. 112 Louise Kwong (ILL), 7-6, 2-2, abandoned
No. 2 -- No. 74 Kate Fahey (U-M) vs. Ines Vias (ILL), 5-7, 3-1, abandoned
No. 3 -- No. 18 Brienne Minor (U-M) d. Madie Baillon (ILL), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 -- Alex Najarian (U-M) vs. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL), 2-6, 4-5, abandoned
No. 5 -- Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) d. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL), 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 -- Teona Velehorschi (U-M) d. Jade Hilton (ILL), 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- No. 41 Brienne Minor/Kate Fahey (U-M) vs. No. 45 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL), 5-3, abandoned
No. 2 -- Alex Najarian/Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) d. Jerricka Boone/Madie Baillon (ILL), 6-2
No. 3 -- Ronit Yurovsky/Teona Velehorschi (U-M) d. Daniela Pedraza Novak/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL), 6-1
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2, Singles 3-6-5
Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre
Players Mentioned
