May 14, 2004

PALO ALTO, Calif. - The No. 26 Michigan Wolverines knocked off the No. 46 University of Denver women's tennis team 4-1 in NCAA first-round action at Taube Family Tennis Stadium Friday afternoon. The Wolverines captured the doubles point and three singles matches to advance to tomorrow's regional final against the winner of the Stanford/Quinnipiac match. The loss was just Denver's second of the season and ended its record-breaking season.

"I am so proud of our team's effort," head coach Dana Young said. "We really battled today, but came up short against a really good opponent. We had a tremendous season and have a chance to be even better next season. Our team gained valuable experience that will definitely help us next year."

Freshman Rachel Sackmaster (Alpharetta, Ga.) was a double winner for the Pioneers. She teamed with freshman Marisa Mechem (Fredericksburg, Texas) to win 8-2 at No. 3 doubles and gained Denver's only point with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Michigan's Kara Delicata at No. 5 singles. Sackmaster finished her freshman season with a 20-1 singles record and 12-4 doubles record.

"Rachel had a tremendous freshman season," Young said. "The sky is the limit for her and we couldn't be more pleased with her play this season."

Michigan captured the doubles point by winning at No. 1 and No. 3. The No. 41-ranked duo of Michelle DaCosta and Delicata clinched the doubles point for the Wolverines with an 8-5 win over No. 46 Yanick Dullens (Susteren, Netherlands) and Suzana Maksovic (Helsingborg, Sweden).

After Sackmaster cut Michigan's lead to 2-1, the Wolverines responded with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles to clinch the win. DaCosta, ranked No. 53, defeated Dullens 7-6, 6-4 and Kavitha Tipirneni defeated Jenny Trettin (So., Berlin, Germany) 6-1 and 7-5.

The 4-1 loss ended Denver's 17-match winning streak. The Pioneers end their season with a sparkling 20-2 record.

No. 26 Michigan 4, No. 46 Denver 1

Singles
1) #53 Michelle DaCosta (UM) def. Yanick Dullens (DU), 7-6, 6-4
2) #83 Elizabeth Exon (UM) vs. Suzana Maksovic (DU), DNF
3) Kavitha Tipirneni (UM)* def. Jenny Trettin (DU), 6-1, 7-5
4) Leanne Rutherford (UM) vs. Barbara Kourim (DU), DNF
5) Rachel Sackmaster (DU) def. Kara Delicata (UM), 3-6, 1-6
6) Debra Streifler (UM) def. Beth Messaros (DU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 3
* Clinched match

Doubles
1) #41 DaCosta/Delicata (UM)* def. #48 Dullens/Maksovic (DU), 8-5
2) Plaushines/Streifler (UM) def. Trettin/Kourim (DU), 8-1
3) Sackmaster/Mechem (DU) def. Nolan/Tipirneni (UM), 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
* Clinched doubles point