Exon, DaCosta Earn High Distinction in Midwest Rankings
12/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SKILLMAN, N.J. -- Several members of the University of Michigan women's tennis team were named among the top collegiate tennis players in the Midwest Region in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's most recent regional rankings. Three Wolverines were listed among the top 30 singles players in the region and three doubles pairings were named among the top 15.
Freshman Elizabeth Exon (Irvine, Calif./Woodridge HS), who represented Michigan in the singles competition at ITA National Indoor Championships (Nov. 6-9) leads the way for the Wolverines with the No. 6 ranking in singles. Junior Michelle DaCosta (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne HS) is also listed among the top 10 singles players in the Midwest, holding the No. 10 ranking. DaCosta also received the No. 67 national ranking in the ITA's preseason poll released on Sept. 3. Senior Kavitha Tipirneni (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Darby HS) rounds out the ranked Wolverine singles players with the No. 17 regional ranking.
DaCosta and her doubles partner, junior Leanne Rutherford (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School), are the top U-M doubles pairing listed in the regional rankings, receiving the No. 9 nod. The tandem were also recognized with the ITA's No. 50 preseason national ranking in early September. Senior Kim Plaushines (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine HS) and sophomore Debra Streifler (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park HS) stand only a couple spots back with the No. 11 ranking, and freshman Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary) and Tipirneni are ranked No. 14.
The Wolverines kick off the winter portion of their schedule on Jan. 9-11 with the Michigan Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor.
For complete ITA preseason rankings, visit the ITA site.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
