Michigan Dominates Penn in ITA Kickoff Opener
The University of Michigan women’s tennis team, ranked seventh nationally, achieved a decisive victory against the University of Pennsylvania, winning 4-0 in the first round of the ITA Kickoff. The match took place on January 24 at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Match Highlights
Michigan’s strong performance began with the doubles competition, where they secured the point by winning matches at both the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. Key contributors included:
- Reese Miller and Ava Bruno, who dominated their match at No. 3, winning with a score of 6-2.
- Piper Charney and Gabriella Lindgren, who concluded their No. 2 match with a 6-3 victory, breaking at 5-3 to secure the win.
With this early lead, Michigan continued its momentum into the singles matches, achieving quick victories at No. 2 and No. 4. Lily Jones and Reese Miller both won their respective matches 6-0, 6-0, rapidly boosting Michigan’s lead to 3-0.
Clinching the Victory
The decisive moment came from Piper Charney, who clinched the match for Michigan at No. 1. She faced Esha Velaga, ranked 89th, and won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Charney’s resilience shone through as she fought back from a second set deficit, ultimately winning the final four games of the last set to secure the shutout for her team.
Upcoming Matches
Following this triumph, Michigan will compete against the 19th-ranked Vanderbilt University on January 25 at 2 p.m. The Wolverines aim to advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship with a strong performance in this next match.
Match Results Summary
| Singles | Result |
|---|---|
| No. 1: Piper Charney (U-M) vs. Esha Velaga (Penn) | 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 |
| No. 2: Lily Jones (U-M) vs. Lara Stojanovski (Penn) | 6-0, 6-0 |
| No. 4: Reese Miller (U-M) vs. Liza Tkachenko (Penn) | 6-0, 6-0 |
Michigan’s impressive performance against Penn sets a strong tone for the season as they look to build on this success in the upcoming matches at the ITA Kickoff.
