Notes & Quotes: #14 Michigan 6, #17 Nebraska 1
4/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 13, 2012
N O T E S
• With today's win, Michigan improved to 2-0 in the all-time series against Nebraska. It was the programs' first ever meeting as Big Ten Conference opponents.
• The Wolverines have won the doubles point in 11 of 20 dual matches this season, combining for a 36-19 doubles record in dual action. U-M also swept the doubles competition against Maryland, Hawaii, Wisconsin and Purdue.
• Michigan boasts a combined 38-10 singles record in Big Ten duals this season.
• Junior Mimi Nguyen improved to 75-32 in her Michigan career and claimed sole possession of the 16th position among U-M's all-time winningest singles players. She needs one more win to reach the 15th spot, currently held by Stacy Berg (76, 1988-91).
• Freshman Emina Bektas owns a 13-6 record against ranked singles opponents this season.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Ronni Bernstein
On today's win ... "We've been talking about getting that total team effort, and we have gotten better and better as the season has progressed. We competed at a very high level today. The doubles was tight; we ended up sweeping, but that point could have gone either way. We had a couple quick ones in singles, and the other girls just hung in there and wore down their opponents. We were a little bit tougher on the big points. We ran away with some third sets. We competed at such a high level that eventually we just wore them down. That 6-1 score is not indicative of the match. Nebraska is a very tough and experienced team. We're very happy with the way we competed."
On Sarah Lee's clinching performance ... "She's just been incredible for us. She was a little under weather before we left. She got off to a slow start, was a little sluggish and just tried to hang in as long as she could. She was down a match point. But she started to string together some points, won some games to make it close in the second set, and then the other girl got a little tight. Sarah just hung in there and battled back, which is so important if we're going to be a successful team down the stretch."
On overcoming slow starts ... "You always want to start well. But I keep telling them that it's a long match and anything can happen if you hang in there. Sarah did that today; Kristy (Dodge) did it against Indiana. Even when you get up, you need to keep going and close out matches. We're doing a much better job than we were earlier in the season with staying in matches and keeping our heads in it whether we're up or down. We just need to find a way to win."
On battling through close, tough matches ... "These matches are helping us. We want to play tough matches, and we want to work to figure out a way to win. Even last week when we didn't win, it's what we need as we go forward. The matches will only get tougher as we get into May. We want to be pushed, and it's good to see us coming through. It's going to give us confidence in the long run that we can get it done."
