Michigan
Thunderbird Invitational
Wolverines Wrap Up Action at Thunderbird Invitational
11/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Event: Thunderbird Invitational
Scoring: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Match: Friday, Jan. 12 -- Michigan Invitational (Varsity Tennis Center)
Wolverines Wrap Up Action at Thunderbird Invitational
Event Recap| Complete Results
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team participated in the 12th annual Thunderbird Invitational Friday through Sunday (Nov. 3-5) at Arizona State's Whiteman Tennis Center. Seven Wolverines competed in the 32-player singles draw and a round-robin doubles format against teams from Arizona State, California, Kansas State, Northern Arizona, Pepperdine and Purdue.
Spearheading the charge for Michigan was freshman Tania Mahtani (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula California), who advanced to the third round in singles play. Mahtani posted straight-set victories over Kansas State's Tereza Prochazkova (6-1, 6-2) and Purdue's Brook Beier (6-3, 6-4) to reach the quarterfinals. Mahtani was unable to pull off an upset of Arizona State's No. 53-ranked Sabrina Capannolo, falling 6-3, 6-4.
Two other Wolverines earned victories in the opening round of singles action. Senior Jenny Kuehn (Leipzig, Germany/Sportgymnasium Leipzig) came back to defeat Kansas State's Fernanda Da Valle, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Sophomore Chisako Sugiyama (Parsippany, N.J./The Montclair Kimberley Academy) knocked off Arizona State's Amanda Martin by a score of 6-4, 6-1. Sugiyama took a 5-3 lead over eventual champion and No. 90-ranked Marion Ravelojaonaof California in the first set of the second round before rolling her ankle and eventually falling 7-5, 6-1.
Kuehn led the way in doubles play, teaming with Sugiyama for a win over California's Ravelojaona and Stephanie Kusano (8-3) before pairing with senior Kara Delicata (LaSalle, Ontario/Sandwich Secondary School) for a 9-8(5) triumph over Arizona State's Jessica Leitch and Kady Pooler.
The Thunderbird Invitational marked the final event of the fall season for U-M. The Wolverines will open 2007 by hosting the Michigan Invitational, Jan. 12-14, at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
