Michigan
ITA All-American Qualifying (Day 2)
Tatsuno Falls on Final Day of ITA/All-American Qualifying
10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Oct. 7, 2009
Site: Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Riviera Tennis Club)
Event: Riviera/ITA-American Qualifying (Day Two)
Scoring: Non-scoring
Next U-M event: Fri-Sun., Oct. 9-11 -- at Kentucky Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- On the second day of qualifying action at the Riviera ITA/All-American Championships today (Wednesday, Oct. 7), junior Rika Tatsuno (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) of the University of Michigan women's tennis team fell to Danielle Lao of Southern California (4-6, 6-2, 6-4), while the Wolverines' pair of doubles teams sported a 4-0 mark on the day at the Riviera Tennis Club.
With the loss, Tatsuno was unable to secure a spot in the main singles draw of the ITA/All-American event. Just like yesterday's (Tuesday, Oct. 6) second match, Tatsuno dropped the first set before storming back to take the second set. The junior ran out of steam in the third to just fall short of qualifying for the main draw.
The Wolverines had a stellar showing in doubles action, going 4-0 in back draw action. The tandem of senior Tania Mahtani (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) and freshman Mimi Nguyen (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) won its first doubles match of consolation action, dominating the No. 22 pairing of Taylor Ormand and Jelena Stanivuk of Baylor, 8-1. The senior and freshman then won in a walkover over the Florida International duo of Maria Pazo and Mariana Muci.
Tatsuno also paired with junior Whitney Taney (Edina, Minn./Edina) to sport a 2-0 doubles mark on the second day of action. Tatsuno and Taney defeated the No. 26-ranked Sarah Fansler and Lyndsay Kintsler of Southern California, 8-5, in their first action of the day. In the second match, the pair of juniors pushed its record to 3-2 on the season by beating Duke's Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinska, 8-6.
The Wolverines continue fall tournament action this weekend (Fri-Sun., Oct. 9-11) when they head to Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational.
Following are U-M's complete qualifying results:
SINGLES
No. 74 Rika Tatsuno
Main Draw first round (Tuesday): def. No. 107 Ragina Acharya, William and Mary -- 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Main Draw second round (Tuesday): def. No. 111 Megan Alexander, Texas Christian -- 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Main Draw third round (Wednesday): l. Danielle Lao, Southern California -- 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
DOUBLES
No. 32 Whitney Taney and Rika Tatsuno
Main Draw first round (Tuesday): l. No. 9 Karen Nijssen/Kristi Boxx, Mississippi -- 8-5
Consolation first round (Wednesday): def. No. 26 Sarah Fansler/Lyndsay Kintsler, Southern California -- 8-5
Consolation second round (Wednesday): def. Ellah Nze/Reka Zsilinska, Duke -- 8-6
No. 50 Tania Mahtani and Mimi Nguyen
Main Draw first round (Tuesday): l. No. 30 Amy Markhoff/Suzie Matzenauer, Cal Poly -- 9-7
Consolation first round (Wednesday): def. No. 22 Taylor Ormand/Jelena Stanivuk, Baylor -- 8-1
Consolation second round (Wednesday): walkover, Maria Pazo/Mariana Muci, Florida International
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
