Michigan
Penn State
U-M Wins Program-Record 17th Straight Match to Advance to B1G Final
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 25, 2015
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Site: Evanston, Ill. (Combe Tennis Center)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)
Score: #12 Michigan 4, Penn State 1
Records: U-M (23-3), PSU (13-11)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 26 -- vs. Ohio State or Northwestern - Big Ten Tournament Final (Evanston, Ill.), Noon CDT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team extended its win streak to 17 -- a program record -- with a 4-1 win over Penn State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday morning (April 25) at the Combe Tennis Center.
Michigan took the first point of the match, dominating on all three courts for the doubles tally. At No. 2, senior Sarah Lee and junior Ronit Yurovsky took an early break at 2-0, only to have Penn State break right back. The Wolverine pair responded by winning the next five games for a 7-1 lead before taking an 8-3 win as the first pair off court.
The Wolverines held concurrent match points at No. 1 and No. 3, as each U-M duo held 7-3 leads. At No. 3, sophomore Sara Remynse and freshman Mira Ruder-Hook jumped out to a 7-1 lead before holding a 7-3 advantage. At No. 1, senior Emina Bektas and freshman Alex Najarian broke at 4-3 en route to a 7-3 lead.
The No. 3 pair came through first, clinching the doubles point with an 8-3 win at No. 3 to afford Michigan the early advantage.
Michigan took four first sets to begin singles play. Lee was the first Wolverine off court, shutting out Dasha Sapogova at No. 4, 6-0, 6-0.
Bektas put Michigan's third point on the scoreboard, winning 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1. Bektas jumped out to an early lead in the first set and broke Katia Blik in the last game of the second set to wrap up the match.
Penn State got a point back with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5.
Moments later, Yurovsky came through with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win at No. 2. Yurovsky and Victoria Kisialeva went back and forth the entire second set, as both players struggled to hold serve in the early going. Yurovsky held serve in her final service game of the second to force the tiebreaker at 6-6. The Wolverine junior jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the breaker, taking the 7-4 win when Kisialeva's forehand sailed long.
Michigan will play for the Big Ten Tournament championship tomorrow (Sunday, April 26), facing either Ohio State or Northwestern. Match time is set for noon CDT.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 23 Emina Bektas (U-M) d. Katia Blik (PSU), 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 -- No. 31 Ronit Yurovsky (U-M) vs. Victoria Kisialeva (PSU), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
No. 3 -- Alex Najarian (U-M) vs. Kim Surin (PSU), 5-7, 4-5 abandoned
No. 4 -- No. 108 Sarah Lee (U-M) d. Dasha Sapogova (PSU), 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 -- Devan McCluskey (PSU) d. Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M), 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 -- Sara Remynse (U-M) vs. Jacqueline Zuhse (PSU), 6-4, 3-6, abandoned
Doubles
No. 1 -- No. 19 Emina Bektas/Alex Najarian (U-M) vs. Katia Blik/Victoria Kisialeva (PSU), 7-3 abandoned
No. 2 -- No. 82 Ronit Yurovsky/Sarah Lee (U-M) d. Devan McCluskey/Kim Surin (PSU), 8-3
No. 3 -- Mira Ruder-Hook/Sara Remynse (U-M) d. Katherine Whiteaway/Jacqueline Zuhse (PSU), 8-3
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3, Singles 4-1-2
