Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan (Big Ten Tourney)
Wildcats Beat Michigan, 4-2; Advance to Title Match
5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 1, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill.--Jamie Peisel's (Savannah, Ga./Savannah Country Day) nail-biting, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 come-from-behind victory over Michigan's Chrissie Nolan gave Northwestern's 11th-ranked women's tennis team a 4-2 victory over the Wolverines and sent it to the Big Ten Championship title match for the sixth-straight year.
"Give Jamie a lot of credit for her perseverance out there," said head coach Claire Pollard, whose NU teams have advanced to the tournament final all six years of her tenure. "I am relieved for her to have won such a high-pressure match."
The dramatic win allows the top-seeded Wildcats (22-4) the chance to defend their five-year reign on the conference title against either No. 6 seed Ohio State or No. 7 seed Iowa at noon Sunday.
Fourth-seeded Michigan (16-6) got off to a fast start in doubles, holding 3-1 leads at Nos. 1 and 2 and a 3-0 lead at the three spot, which it eventually won 8-2. But the 'Cats prevailed in the other matches, firing up an already emotionally charged crowd.
Third-ranked Cristelle Grier (Epsom, England/Putney) and Jessica Rush (Dallas, Texas/The Hockaday School) made a tremendous rally, winning seven-straight games to beat Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata 8-3.
With all eyes focused on No. 2 doubles, Peisel and Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) powered their way past Kim Plaushines and Debra Streifler 8-5 to give NU, which lost in doubles last time it played Michigan, the point.
Singles proved to be even more exciting. The Wolverines took No. 6 singles to tie the match, but third-ranked Grier re-took the lead for NU with her 6-2, 6-4 triumph over DaCosta at No. 1.
The remaining three matches turned out to be slug-fests.
On the adjacent court to Grier, Prousis took Kavitha Tipirneni to the wire at No. 3. The freshman lost the first-set tiebreaker, almost took the second set with her 5-3 lead but eventually fell 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Northwestern gained the 3-2 advantage when 47th-ranked Rush, using strong baseline play, knocked down Elizabeth Exon 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2.
At No. 6, Andrea Yung (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) lost her first set against Leanna Rutherford 7-5 but managed to take set two 7-6 (3). Yung trailed Rutherford in the third set when Peisel won four courts over.
There, the sophomore fought off a cramp and unrelenting play from Nolan to extend her winning streak to 15.
"I decided to become more assertive after I couldn't clinch at 5-2 and 5-3 (in the third set)," said Peisel, who won her fourth match after losing the first set. "I actually thought Andrea had lost and the match was down to me. There was definitely a lot of pressure, but I am glad to have pulled through."
Said Pollard: "I told the team it would take some tough matches to make it to the title game. I knew the match would come down to the very end, and I am happy for the team."
The location of the tournament final will be determined Sunday morning based on outdoor conditions.
