Sometimes, an injury can make or break a collegiate athletic career.

Many recruiters, unsure of an athlete’s future, choose not to take the risk. But almost four years ago, the Michigan women’s tennis program did – and now senior Denise Muresan has the chance to change the record books forever.

The senior is just 12 wins away from breaking the program record for career singles wins. Former Wolverine Chisako Sugiyama holds the current record with 104 wins; Muresan currently sits at the No. 5 slot with 93.

Michigan coach Ronni Bernstein explained that despite being a star in juniors, Muresan was injured during the collegiate recruitment process, so many would not have guessed she would be standing where she is today.

“I think a lot of schools were unsure,” Berstein said of Muresan’s ability to successfully compete at the collegiate level. “When you have someone coming off an injury you really don’t know where she can get to.”

Breaking a Michigan record didn't even seem to be on the table.

But Muresan always knew she had it in her.

“A lot of maturing off of the court helped me play better on the court,” Muresan said. “Just to relax and have more fun with the sport is what ultimately helped me to reach those goals. I have a lot of confidence in myself.”

Staring down the singles record is not the first time Muresan has come face to face with making history in the Michigan women’s tennis program. During the 2009-10 season, the Illinois native earned All-American honors – the first Wolverine to do so since Marian Kremer in 1981 – and was named Big Ten Player of the Year.

“At the end of our (2009-10) season, we didn’t have as good of a finish as we wanted to – even me individually,” Muresan said. “After I got All-American, it was just really exciting. That entire year I was trying to believe in myself, that I belonged at the top. After the season that we had, it gave me the confidence to know that I belonged there.”

As one of four seniors currently on the team’s roster, Muresan has buillt close ties with many of her teammates – especially senior Kari Wig.

Wig calls Muresan "competitive and fiery," yet funny and kind, emphasizing that despite being the 11th-ranked competitor at No. 1 singles, she’s completely different once her feet leave the court and her racket is away.

“I remember when we were freshman, we didn’t know each other very well,” Wig said. “I’d seen her off the court and she was so nice. Then the first time we played points against each other ... I was shocked.”

Muresan has built quite the career for herself, working her way up the ranks over the past three years. As a freshman, she kicked off her career at the No. 5 singles slot, reaching a steady position at No. 1 by her junior year.

Currently 3-1 this season, Muresan is just 12 wins away from taking Sugiyama’s title as the Wolverine with the most career singles wins. After a 2009-10 record of 18-8, a career winning percentage of .699 and at least 16 more matches this season, she has a fighting chance.

“It doesn’t really faze her,” Bernstein said of Muresan’s current successes. “Denise has always had a ton of confidence in herself. Every time she steps out on the court, she feels like she can win the match.”

Bernstein hopes the next 12 times Muresan steps out on the court, she’s right.