Weekly Release #9
3/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Thursday, March 28 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 31 -- at Wake Forest (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Noon
Friday, April 5 -- Miami, Fla. (Varsity Tennis Center), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 -- Ohio State (Varsity Tennis Center), 11 a.m.
Sunday, April 7 -- Penn State (Varsity Tennis Center), 11 a.m.
Wolverines Travel Again This Week
The University of Michigan women's tennis team (7-6, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to Big Ten Conference action for one match midweek and heads south to face a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolverines look to win their second straight conference match Thursday evening (March 28, 6 p.m.) against in-state and conference rival Michigan State at the MSU Tennis Facility in East Lansing. Following the match with the Spartans, U-M travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a match against No. 2 Wake Forest on Easter Sunday (March 31, noon) at the Leighton Tennis Center.
Women's Tennis Heads to Michigan State
The Wolverines and Spartans meet for the 46th time Thursday (March 28), with Michigan looking to claim its 15th consecutive victory against Michigan State. U-M has a 30-15 advantage in the all-time series with MSU, and has not lost to the Spartans since a 6-3 setback during the 1987-88 season. The Wolverines have won six straight matches in East Lansing and boast a 12-6 all-time mark at MSU. Michigan head coach Bitsy Ritt has a 16-10 career record against Michigan State, including a 7-0 victory last year at the Varsity Tennis Center (March 30).
Wolverines vs. Demon Deacons
The Wolverines enter Sunday's match (March 31) against the No. 2-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons looking to capture their first victory in the series. Wake Forest holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series, winning 7-2 matches during the 1996-97 and 1998-99 seasons and claiming a 6-0 victory during the 1994-95 season.
Netters Hitting Stride
The Wolverines moved their current winning streak to three matches and climbed above the .500 mark for the season with two victories last weekend in Milwaukee, Wis. Michigan won a 6-1 match against Marquette Saturday (March 23) and followed with a 5-2 victory over No. 56-ranked Tulane Sunday (March 24). U-M claimed the doubles point in each match and won five singles matches against Marquette and four vs. Tulane. The three singles losses all came in 10-point tie breakers played in place of a complete third set.
Nolan Notching Wins
Sophomore Chrissie Nolan (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) has made a smooth transition to the No. 3 singles slot for the Wolverines, collecting wins in four of her five matches. Nolan has compiled a 12-7 overall singles record this season and has a 6-5 mark in dual matches. She blistered the competition last weekend, gaining a 6-4, 6-2 win over Marquette's Veronica Garcia Briseno and a 6-0, 6-4 victory against Joyce Bergman of Tulane. In her career, Nolan has compiled a 32-18 mark with a 16-15 record in dual match action.
Nolan and Tipirneni Form Formidable Opposition
Last season's winningest doubles team, Chrissie Nolan and fellow sophomore Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) have slid into the third slot in the lineup and produced big victories. Nolan and Tipirneni boast an impressive 9-3 overall doubles record together and are 8-2 in dual match action. They have won three straight matches and six of their last seven, including three of four in Big Ten competition. Nolan and Tipirneni have compiled a 19-6 record together and are 18-5 in dual matches.
Three Players Tied for Lead in Singles Victories
Juniors Jen Duprez (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach HS) and Joanne Musgrove (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich HS) and freshman Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) enter action this week tied for the team lead in singles victories with 13. Duprez and Musgrove have identical 13-7 singles marks, while Rutherford has compiled a 13-9 record. Duprez leads the squad with eight dual match victories (8-4), Rutherford and classmate Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) list tied for second with seven wins (7-6), while Musgrove and Nolan check in with six victories each.
DaCosta and Rutherford Seek 15th Doubles Win
The Wolverines' top doubles pairing of Michelle DaCosta and Leanne Rutherford looks to capture its 15th doubles victory when U-M hits the hardcourt this week. DaCosta and Rutherford lead the team with 14 victories this season (14-9 overall record) and have compiled a 7-6 dual match record at No. 1. The duo split two matches this past weekend, beating Marquette's Genevieve Charron and Anna Pavlovic by an 8-4 score before losing 8-4 to Tulane's Maria Ivanov and Joyce Bergman. The victory against Marquette boosted DaCosta and Rutherford to an impressive 12-4 mark against regional opposition.
Plaushines an All-Around Contributor
Sophomore Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) has continued to be a major contributor in doubles while stepping into the singles lineup when called upon to gain a victory. Plaushines has teamed with Jen Duprez this season at No. 2 doubles, where the duo has compiled a 9-5 overall record and a 6-3 mark in dual matches. They have recorded five straight victories and have an impressive 3-1 mark against conference opponents. In singles action, Plaushines has compiled a 9-4 overall record and a 4-1 mark in dual matches (1-1 at No. 5, 3-0 at No. 6). She has won four straight matches and six of her last seven, including a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Tulane's Anneli Axsater at the No. 6 spot last weekend.
Three-Match Home Week Looms
The women's tennis squad plays home matches on three consecutive days next weekend. The Wolverines host the Miami Hurricanes Friday afternoon (April 5, 1:30 p.m.) in their final non-conference match of the season. U-M begins the five-match stretch prior to the Big Ten Championships by facing Ohio State Saturday (April 6) and Penn State Sunday (April 7) at the Varsity Tennis Center, beginning at 11 a.m. each day.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
