4B - Monday, March 26, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Away from home, 'M' tames Lions * By CHRIS MESZAROS Daily Sports Writer STATE COLLEGE - When you mix fire and water you generally get smoke. But on Friday, a rowdy Penn State crowd couldn't douse the flames of a red-hot pair of Wolverines. After taking an early 1-0 lead, the Michigan women's tennis team con- tinued to roll, winning the first three singles matches to seal the match in a 5-2 win. The No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Chisako Sugiyama and senior Jenny Kuehn faced the majority of the slander. But the efforts of the Nittany Lions and company were rendered moot by a 8-4 victory for Michigan "The crowd made me focus even more," Kuehn said. "If I let this stuff bother me I will just go downhill, but at the end I laughed about it because we won." Sugiyama and Kuehn took control of the match early, breaking Penn State's Lauren Holzberg and Sasha Abraham. Kuehn won several Michigan points with deceptive backhand volleys placed carefully between the Penn State play- ers. The duo has been key to Michigan's revitalized doubles effort. After start- ing the season 0-9 in doubles play, the Wolverines have since gone 4-1. This coincides with Michigan coach Amanda Augustus's pairing of the two, who are now 5-0 in dual match play. "Jenny and Chisako are very similar players," Augustus said. "They both are very solid with volleys and transition shots; they outsmart and out-move the opposition." Michigan was also strong at the No. 2 doubles pairing with senior Kara Delicata and freshman Tania Mahtani. Delicata's strong serve and Mahtani's powerful returns make them a great fit. The combination of power allowed Michigan to dominate in a 8-3 win. "I feel so privileged to play with Kara," Mahtani said. "She has taughtme a lot and advises me in what I need to do and when we're trusting our games we do really well together." Mahtani also clinched the match for Michigan at No. 3 singles, extending her winning streak to six. Due to sev- eral unforced errors by Mahtani, Penn State's Jenny Shular won the first set. But a rejuvenated Mahtani regained her focus and pressured Shular with her powerful return shot to win (4-6, 6-1, 6-0). "I was struggling at the beginning, she hit some great shots," Mahtani said. "But I began to trust my game and put more pressure on her. It was a great feel- ing to clinch the win for Michigan/" Mahtani, a freshman, has been a key to the Wolverines' success, winning her past six matches and clinching five dual-matches for Michigan. The Wolverines maintained their focus throughout the match. Their per- formance in doubles quieted the crowd, and after Michigan clinched the match, the disheartened Penn State fans began to leave. Despite being the loudest crowd the Wolverines have faced thus far, Michigan was ready to meet the challenge. "The team did a really good job of just focusing on their game plan and they really didn't notice (the crowd) too much after they got going in their matches," Augustus said. "It really didn't affect anyone at all." EUGENE ROBINSON/Daii Senior Kara Delicata turned in a strong doubles performance over the weekend, helping propel the Michigan women's tennis team to a 8-4 victory over Penn State this weekend in State College. 6 Arizona not as kind this time to Blue 0 By MATT JOHNSON Daily Sports Writer Dfjavu it wasn't for the Michigan women's golf team. Over spring break, the Wolverines trav- eled to Arizona and finished third at the Red Rocks Invitational. But they couldn't repli- cate their past success this weekend, finish- ing eighth out of 16 teams at the Mountain View Challenge in Tucson. Freshman Ashley Bauer led the way for the Wolverines, shooting 4-under par to fin- ish in fifth place. She played well throughout the tournament, finishing under par in every round. Michigan coach Kathy Teichert didn't mince words in praise of her effort. "It was awesome," Teichert said. Bauer didn't get much help from her teammates. Seniors Brianna Broderick and Ali Stinson, Michigan's two lowest scorers throughout the season, finished 47th and 55th, respectively. Broderick had led the Wol- verines in six out of their eight tournaments this season, and her consistency is something the team counts on every time out. "It was a little disappointing," Teichert said. "Obviously you think they're (Broder- ick and Stinson) going to shoot around par. But they've been great for us all year and we look forward to finishing out the year with them." Michigan had many opportunities to capi- talize on during the weekend. The Wolver- ines were in 10th after the first day, but they couldn't turn the corner en route to their mediocre finish. Teichert seemed disappointed they were unable to do so. "Today wehad perfectweather andperfect scoring opportunities," Teichert said. "It also wasn't that difficult of a course, which is why some of our players were disappointed with the scores they got. " Nebraska won the tournament,but BigTen rivals Northwestern and Indiana both fin- ished above the Wolverines. Michigan hopes that won't be a sign of things to come when they compete at the Big Ten championships in late April. The Wolverines have struggled as of late, and finished 12th out of 16 teams at the Lady Gator Invitational two weeks ago. Still, Teichert doesn't seem too worried. "I'm looking forward to Big Tens," Tei- chert said. "I think we're going to do really well and end the season on a positive note." 0 Senior Brianna Broderick and the rest of the Michigan women's golf team finished eighth out of 16 teams in Tucson, Ariz this weekend. $100CASHREWARD For the safe return of Mr., y Cook's bust Its easy and free! missing from If you live in Ann Arbor, you the Martha haverecycing seriesob ight outside your door.Fo re 4 Cook Building CalReccleAnnArborto since March tote or contact your ld ld ad William Wilson Cook 2006. 1858.1930 let themoknw you want recydi Call: 734-763-2084C- c- Director, Martha Cook Building ' Sv 810S. State St. 222.4822 1906 Packard 995.9940 M I 11--!T'" i7 A£"IE V'NOTE Wolverines keep on rolling, beat Badgers The No. 28 Michigan men's ten- Junior Matko Maravic led the nis team continued its winning way for the Wolverines, securing a ways on Saturday, defeating Big Ten crucial win at the No.1 singles spot, foe Wisconsin in Madison, 4-3. defeating Badger junior Nolan Pol- The victory was the Wolverines' ley, 7-6 (2), 6-4. Senior Brian Hung third straight and kept them alive clinched the team win at the No. 2 in the race for the conference title. singles position when he recovered Michigan swept the doubles from a disastrous first set to secure portion of the meet and won three a comeback victory over Wisconsin of the first four singles matches to junior Jeremy Sonkin, 0-6, 7-6 (4), build an insurmountable lead. 6-2. 0 btbburrito.com I