Michigan to Host ITA Kick-Off to Start Dual-Match Action

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan women's tennis team (0-0) begins dual-match action this weekend (Jan. 25-26), hosting the ITA Kick-Off at the Varsity Tennis Center. Joining U-M at the two-day event with a berth to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship on the line are Yale, No. 21 Vanderbilt and UCSB.

ITA Kick-Off Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 25
No. 8 Michigan vs. Yale, 10 a.m.
UCSB vs. No. 21 Vanderbilt, 2 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 26
Loser of match one vs. loser of match two, 10 a.m.
Winner of match one vs. winner of match two, 2 p.m.

Notes

• Michigan kicks off dual-match action this weekend, hosting the ITA Kick-Off for the second straight season. U-M most recently hosted the Michigan Invitational (Jan. 10-12) to begin the calendar year, dropping just one singles match across the three-day event.

• The No. 1-seeded team (Michigan) at each site will face the No. 4 team (Yale). The No. 2 team (Vanderbilt) will face the No. 3 team (UCSB). Two matches are guaranteed -- the winners and losers will play the following day. The 14 schools that win both of their matches at these events will be invited to play in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, hosted by Illinois and Northwestern this season.

• Michigan is looking for its 13th berth in the last 16 seasons to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. U-M reached the championship match at the national event last season, finishing runner-up to Oklahoma State.

• The Wolverines enter the dual-match portion of the season with a No. 8 team ranking. Michigan is one of four Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25.

• U-M has a trio of ranked singles players in No. 5 Julia Fliegner, No. 18 Piper Charney, and No. 40 Lily Jones. On the doubles side, Jones pairs with Jessica Bernales to come in at No. 18 after competing in the NCAA Doubles Championship in the fall. Reese Miller and Fliegner rank No. 49, with Charney and Emily Sartz-Lunde coming in at No. 61.

• Michigan swept the Big Ten weekly awards last week, with Miller earning Player of the Week honors and Sartz-Lunde taking the first-ever Freshman of the Week award.

• The Wolverines are 6-1 all-time against Yale, with this marking the fourth time the Bulldogs have come to Ann Arbor for the ITA Kick-Off. Michigan is 7-3 against Vanderbilt and 0-2 against UCSB in program history.

• Head coach Ronni Bernstein enters her 18th season as the head coach, holding a 524-192 overall coaching record. She is currently eighth nationally among active coaches in wins. Bernstein ranks 18th all-time in victories.

• Michigan welcomes three freshmen to this year's team in Bernales, Sartz-Lunde, and Ava Bruno.

• Fliegner wrapped up All-America honors in the fall, reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Championship. She earned the first top-five ranking of her career entering the dual-match season, coming in at No. 5.