Northwestern
Michigan
Claire Pollard Earns 200th Career Win as Wildcats Clip Wolverines
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 24, 2004
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--Today was a stellar day for Northwestern's 10th-ranked women's tennis team.
For starters, its 4-3 come-from-behind win over No. 29 Michigan gave head coach Claire Pollard her 200th career win. Also, with Illinois losing to Indiana, the Wildcats (19-4, 8-1 Big Ten) now sit at the top of the Big Ten Conference standings.
"I think winning my 200th match says more about my players than about me," said Pollard, who improved to 200-93 overall, 129-34 at NU. "I feel fortunate to have had the chance to coach some outstanding teams throughout the years."
The match almost turned out a different way after the Wolverines (14-5, 5-4) took the doubles point for the early 1-0 lead. Third-ranked Cristelle Grier (Surrey, England/Epsom) and Jessica Rush (Dallas, Texas/The Hockaday School) prevented the shutout with their 8-2 rout of 48th-ranked Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata at No. 1.
Fortunately, Northwestern was able to turn things around by triumphing at four of the six singles matches.
"We just dug in our heels, and decided we were not going to lose (the match)," said Pollard. "I thought that helped us a lot in singles."
NU found itself in a 3-0 deficit after losses at Nos. 2 and 6. But then second-ranked Grier churned out a 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 57 DaCosta at No. 1 to put her team on the board and start the Wildcat run.
Andrea Yung (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) finished next, topping Debra Streifler 6-3, 6-3 at the five spot. A few courts over, Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) tied the match at 3-3 by edging Kavitha Tipirneni 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 3.
Thus, the decisive match came at No. 4, where Jamie Peisel (Savannah, Ga./Savannah Country Day) battled against Leanne Rutherford. In the end, Peisel clinched another match for the 'Cats, beating her opponent 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
The Wildcats can now earn the top seed for the Big Ten Championship should they defeat their final foe, Michigan State, which they play at 9 a.m. (CT) Sunday in East Lansing, Mich.
No. 10 Northwestern 4, No. 29 Michigan 3
Singles
No. 1 -- #2 Cristelle Grier (NU) d. #57 Michelle DaCosta, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 -- #101 Elizabeth Exon (UM) d. #47 Jessica Rush, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 -- Alexis Prousis (NU) d. Kavitha Tipirneni, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
No. 4 -- Jamie Peisel (NU) d. Leanne Rutherford, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
No. 5 -- Andrea Yung (NU) d. Debra Streifler, 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 -- Kara Delicata (UM) d. Ruth Barnes, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 -- #3 Grier/Rush (NU) d. #48 DaCosta/Delicata, 8-2
No. 2 -- #54 Kim Plaushines/Streifler (UM) d. Peisel/Prousis, 9-8 (0)
No. 3 -- Chrissie Nolan/Tipirneni (UM) d. Barnes/Yung, 8-3
