Minor Lifts Tide to Fourth Straight Win Over Michigan
3/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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Minor was on-court for more than an hour after the rest of her teammates finished playing, and that final shot capped a remarkable comeback by the Vestavia Hills native. After winning the first set 6-4, Minor lost the second 7-5 and faced a 2-0 deficit in the third set against Michigan’s Leanne Rutherford before the rally.
“That match is as clutch as it gets,” Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. “She made a breakthrough with a win against Ole Miss and she had the confidence to know that she can pull through in a clutch. She is a very strong person and she believes in herself and this team. She really deserved that.”
“(Assistant Coach) Daryl (Greenan) kept telling me to say the same thing over and over again in my head to stay calm,” Minor said. “I can’t remember what I was saying, but I was just trying to stay positive. I was praying that I would be able to stay confident and that I could do it.”
Down 4-3 in the third, Minor broke Rutherford’s serve to square the match at four-all. The match then remained on serve until the final game, with Minor up 6-5 in the third. Minor had double-match point at 15-40, and made an unforced error the point before clinching the match with a 7-5 third-set victory.
Two of the Crimson Tide’s most reliable players continued their winning ways Sunday as well. Sophomore Robin Stephenson scored her fifth straight win, defeating No. 99 Michelle DaCosta in two sets, while Ashley Bentley notched her tenth straight victory, winning over 67th-ranked Elizabeth Exon in a methodical fashion, 6-2, 6-2.
Although the Tide dropped the doubles point, Bentley and Stephenson paired in doubles for their sixth consecutive victory.
The Crimson Tide returns to Southeastern Conference play on Friday, hosting South Carolina at 3 p.m. Alabama hosts the 3rd-ranked Florida Gators in Tuscaloosa Sunday.
#37 Alabama 4, #17 Michigan 3
Doubles
1. Stephenson/Bentley (UA) d. #43 DaCosta/Delicata (UM) 8-3
2. #36 Kim Plaushines/Streifler (UM) d. Begovic/Minor (UA) 8-3
3. Tiperinin/Rutherford (UM) d. Muller/Koppelle (UA) 9-8
Order: 2-1-3
Singles
1. #50 Robin Stephenson (UA) d. #99 Michelle DaCosta (UM) 7-5, 6-2
2. Ashley Bentley (UA) d. #67 Elizabeth Exon (UM) 6-2, 6-2
3. Kavitha Tipernini (UM) d. Nathalie Koppelle (UA) 6-3, 6-2
4. Millie Begovic (UA) d. Chrissie Nolan (UM) 6-4, 6-0
*5. Melissa Minor (UA) d. Leanne Rutherford (UM) 6-4, 7-5, 7-5
6. Debra Sreifler (UM) d. Mari Muller (UA) 7-6, 6-2
Order 4-3-6-2-1-5
*clinched match
