April 25, 2003
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Northwestern inched closer to its fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship title with a 4-0 win over seventh-seeded Michigan inside the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign.
After winning the doubles point, Northwestern went ahead, 2-0 when Jessica Rush won at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-0, defeating Chrissie Nolan. Andrea Yung gave NU a 3-0 lead with a straight-set victory (6-1, 6-1) win over Kavitha Tipirneni at No. 4 singles. Stacy Kokx then broke Debra Streifler's serve to close out the match at No. 6 singles for the Wildcats with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win.
Northwestern took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The tandem of Jamie Peisel and Kokx made quick work of Joanne Musgrove and Kim Plaushines in the third slot, getting by the Wolverines' duo, 8-2. At No. 1 doubles, Cristelle Grier and Rush clinched the point with an 8-6 win over Michelle DaCosta and Leeanne Rutherford.
Northwestern will play Illinois in the semifinals at the Atkins Tennis Center Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Illini downed Wisconsin 4-1 in the quarterfinals.
No. 2 Northwestern vs. No. 7 Michigan
NU 4, U-M 0
Singles
1) Cristelle Grier (NU) vs. Michelle DaCosta (U-M), 6-2, 2-4, abandoned
2) Jessica Rush (NU) def. Chrissie Nolan (U-M), 6-1, 6-0
3) Jamie Peisel (NU) vs. Leanne Rutherford (U-M), 7-5, 4-2, abandoned
4) Andrea Yung (NU) def. Kavitha Tipirneni (U-M), 6-1, 6-1
5) Ruth Barnes (NU) vs. Kim Plaushines (U-M), 0-6, 4-4, abandoned
6) Stacy Kokx (NU) def. Debra Streifler (U-M), 7-6 (5), 6-3
Doubles
1) Grier/Rush (NU) def. DaCosta/Rutherford (U-M), 8-6
2) Barnes/Yung (NU) vs. Nolan/Streifler (U-M), 5-5, abandoned
3) Peisel/Kokx (NU) def. Joanne Musgrove/Plaushines (U-M), 8-2