Jan. 19, 2009

Results

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 24 University of Tennessee women's tennis team finished off a successful stay in the Wolverine State with seven victories on the third and final day of action at the University of Michigan Invitational at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The day started off with the Big Orange claiming wins in three of its four doubles contests. The Tennessee tandem of juniors Caitlin Whoriskey and Zsófia Zubor opened the scoring with an 8-3 triumph over the Vanderbilt duo of Heather Steinbauer and Jackie Wu, before Lady Vol sophomores Rosalía Alda and Maria Sorbello snared an 8-4 victory over the Commodore combo of Chelsea Preeg and Keilly Ulery.

UT sophomore Jennifer Meredith and freshman Natalie Pluskota then teamed up to give the Orange and White its third straight doubles win over Southeastern Conference rival Vanderbilt, defeating Hannah Blatt and Catherine Newman, 8-3. The lone Lady Vol doubles loss came to the pairing of Lindsey Howard and Michelle Sulahian from host-squad Michigan, as senior Samantha Orlin and freshman Katie Lee dropped an 8-0 decision.

Tennessee continued its winning ways in singles play, claiming wins in four of seven contests against competitors from Michigan. Once again, it was Whoriskey who got the ball rolling for UT. The native of East Sandwich, Mass., who is ranked 92nd in the nation, easily dispatched Chisako Sugiyama in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to become the first UT player this season to reach double-digits in singles wins. Meredith quickly followed suit, dropping just a single point to her opponent, Kari Wig, en route to a 6-0, 6-1, victory.

Zubor and the 77th-rated Orlin added singles wins of their own as well, downing Sulahian and Howard by scores of 6-3, 6-4, and 7-6(5), 6-2, respectively. Unfortunately, the final three Big Orange competitors still in action were unable to close out their stay with victories, as Alda, Pluskota and Sorbello all dropped hard-fought matches. Both Pluskota and Sorbello opened their contests by winning the first sets, but eventually fell after three frames against Tania Mahtani, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Whitney Taney, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Alda completed UT's stay in Michigan with a 6-1, 6-4, loss at the hands of Rika Tatsuno.

Tennessee will open the dual-match portion of its schedule next weekend when it travels to the Prairie State for a 1 p.m. showdown on Sat., Jan. 24, at No. 37 Illinois. From there, the Orange and White will move on to West Lafayette, Ind., to square off with Purdue at 2 p.m. the next day.

SUNDAY RESULTS
SINGLES
No. 92 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee)	def.	Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan)	6-2, 6-2
Rika Tatsuno (Michigan)	def.	Rosalía Alda (Tennessee)	6-1, 6-4
Tania Mahtani (Michigan)	def.	Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee)	1-6, 6-1, 6-2
Whitney Taney (Michigan)	def.	Maria Sorbello (Tennessee)	1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee)	def.	Michelle Sulahian (Michigan)	6-3, 6-4
No. 77 Samantha Orlin (Tennessee)	def.	Lindsey Howard (Michigan)	7-6(5), 6-2
Jennifer Meredith (Tennessee)	def.	Kari Wig (Michigan)	6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES
Caitlin Whoriskey/Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee)	def.	Heather Steinbauer/Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt)	8-3
Rosalía Alda/Maria Sorbello (Tennessee)	def.	Chelsea Preeg/Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt)	8-4
Jennifer Meredith/Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee)	def.	Hannah Blatt/Catherine Newman (Vanderbilt)	8-3
Lindsey Howard/Michelle Sulahian (Michigan)	def.	Katie Lee/Samantha Orlin (Tennessee)	8-0