Michigan
Marquette
Michigan Pounds Marquette to Complete Perfect Road Swing
3/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Site: Milwaukee, Wis. (Helfaer Tennis Stadium)
Score: Michigan 6, Marquette 1
Records: U-M (6-4), Marquette (6-9)
Next U-M Match: Wednesday, March 19 -- vs. Western Michigan (Varsity Tennis Center), 6 p.m.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The No. 29-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team extended its winning streak to four matches with a commanding 6-1 victory over Marquette Saturday afternoon (March 15) at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. The Wolverines (6-4) claimed their fourth straight doubles point and posted straight-set wins in five of six singles matches to improve their all-time record against the Golden Eagles (6-9) to 13-1.
Senior Allie Shafner(Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) and junior Lindsey Howard(Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin HS) were victorious for the second time in three tries at the No. 3 position this season, earning an 8-3 win over Elly Strother and Maggie Wilson to give U-M the early leg up in doubles. Michigan's No. 53-ranked duo of senior Chisako Sugiyama(Parsippany, N.J./The Montclair Kimberley Academy) and sophomore Tania Mahtani(Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) provided Michigan with a 1-0 lead thanks to an 8-3 decision over Shannon Brown and Maria Calbeto at No. 1. Sugiyama and Mahtani hold a 6-4 dual-match record at the top spot this year.
The freshmen tandem of Denise Muresan(Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson HS) and Whitney Taney(Edina, Minn./Edina HS) wrapped up the doubles sweep and remained perfect in dual-match play at 3-0 with an 8-4 triumph over Rachael Hush and Erin Watkins at No. 2.
Freshman Rika Tatsuno(Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) continued her solid play in singles, claiming a dominating 6-0, 6-1 victory over Strother at No. 5 to put the Wolverines in front 2-0. Tatsuno has won four straight and holds a 5-5 record in dual-match play. Muresan proved to be no match for Wilson at No. 4, as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win to bring U-M within one point of taking home the team victory. Muresan has won five straight dating back to Feb. 17.
Taney closed the door on Marquette with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 win over Calbeto at No. 2. Taney has been impressive at the second position in her first season, winning four of five matches. Sugiyama, ranked 55th nationally, gave the Wolverines their fifth team point with her 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Watkins at the top spot. Sugiyama has won five straight and six of nine at No. 1 this season.
Howard capped off the team scoring for Michigan, as she hung tough to beat Brown at No. 6, 7-6(3), 7-6(5). Howard holds a four-match winning streak and has won all but three of nine matches in dual-match action this year.
The Wolverines will aim for their fifth straight victory on Wednesday (March 19) when they welcome Western Michigan to the Varsity Tennis Center for a 6 p.m. match.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #55 Chisako Sugiyama (U-M) d. Erin Watkins, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 -- Whitney Taney (U-M) d. Maria Calbeto, 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 -- Rachael Hush (Marquette) d. #99 Tania Mahtani, 6-2, 2-6, 1-0(3)
No. 4 -- Denise Muresan (U-M) d. Maggie Wilson, 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 -- Rika Tatsuno (U-M) d. Elly Strother, 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 -- Lindsey Howard (U-M) d. Shannon Brown, 7-6(3), 7-6(5)
Doubles
No. 1 -- #53 Mahtani/Sugiyama (U-M) d. Brown/Calbeto, 8-3
No. 2 -- Muresan/Taney (U-M) d. Hush/Watkins, 8-4
No. 3 -- Howard/Allie Shafner (U-M) d. Strother/Wilson, 8-3
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-1-2, Singles 5-4-2-1-3-6
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
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Players Mentioned
