2010 Big Ten Women's Tennis Conference Championships final day

May 2, 2010
The Northwestern women won their 12th straight Big Ten Women’s Tennis Conference Championship Sunday at the University of Iowa.

It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the 70s, and the Wildcats were in total control. Though they were used to the top position, they didn’t let Michigan’s claim of No. 1 seeding scare them off. The doubles point was all Northwestern, with 8-3 wins by Maria Mosolova & Elena Chernyakova at No. 2 and Samantha Murray & Kate Turvy at No. 3. They were also leading on the first court, which was abandoned at 5-4.

Singles started quickly and within no time Northwestern would be up 3-0. It was a very different day for Mosolova, who was the last one standing through a very slow match yesterday. For the final, she was in total control over Denise Muresan for a 6-1,6-2 win. The next point came with the same score, from Turvy at No. 4, but the final one wouldn’t be quite so easy as the remaining four courts would split sets.
On court two, Samantha Murray had won the first set, then lost the second and was close to doing the same with the third, down 2-5 so there would be no clincher there.  Wildcat Stacey Lee had just split sets and was nowhere near a finish, so it was up to No. 3 and No. 5 – both with 5-2 scores for Northwestern in the third set. It would be Linda Abu Mushrefova (pictured right) who would do it just before Lauren Lui had a chance, giving their 12 consecutive (and 14th overall) championship.

During the presentation ceremony, Northwestern Head Coach Claire Pollard thanked the hosts for putting on what she called the best job of the last 12 championships she has been to. I have to agree that the Hawkeye staff was incredible with some help from a very organized Big Ten group.

A story on the men’s championship, which was won by Ohio State over Illinois, will be posted soon with photos.

#2 Northwestern 4, #1 Michigan 0
Maria Mosolova (NU) defeated Denise Muresan (MI), 6-1,6-2
Samantha Murray (NU) vs. Whitney Taney (MI), 6-1,2-6,2-5 Did Not Finish
Lauren Lui (NU) vs. Mimi Nguyen (MI), 0-6,6-4,5-2 Did Not Finish
Kate Turvy (NU) defeated Ryka Tatsuno (MI), 6-1,6-2
Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) defeated Tania Mahtani (MI), 6-4,4-6,6-2
Stacey Lee (NU) vs. Michelle Sulahan (MI), 4-6,6-4,0-2
Lauren Lui/Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) vs. Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (MI), 5-4 Did Not Finish
Maria Mosolova/Elena Chenyakova (NU) defeated Mimi Nguyen/Michelle Sulian (MI), 8-3
Samantha Murray/Kate Turvy (NU) defeated Denise Muresan/Tania Mahtani (MI), 8-3