BLOOMINGTON - When the Michigan women's tennis team had fallen to 1-4 in the Big Ten five weeks ago, any chance of a postseason run looked grim.

After this weekend, the Wolverines advanced to the semifinals in the Big Ten Tournament and should make the NCAA Tournament next weekend for the first time since 1998.

Michigan (7-6 Big Ten, 14-10 overall) won its first round matchup against No. 11 seed Minnesota, 4-1, and advanced to play No. 3 Ohio State. After blanking the Buckeyes 4-0, the Wolverines met No. 2 Wisconsin and lost a heavily contested match 4-3. The Wolverines went 4-1 to conclude the conference season and entered the Big Ten tournament seeded sixth.

Michigan faced Wisconsin earlier in the season and was handed Michigan one of its worst losses of the season at 6-1. But after winning the first two games, Michigan knew it was up to the challenge.

As was the case all weekend, the Wolverines jumped out early by securing the doubles point against the Badgers. The Wolverines dominated their strength at doubles in all three matches over the weekend and gained the ability to quickly seize momentum in a match.

"We expect to win the doubles point," said sophomore Kavitha Tipirneni.

Tipirneni and her partner at No. 3 doubles, Chrissie Nolan, won all three of their matches this weekend and won against Wisconsin, 8-5.

Up 1-0, Michigan needed to win just three of the six singles matches to advance to the Big Ten final and play Northwestern. In an unprecedented display, Michigan won five of its first six sets, and it appeared as if it would advance to the finals. But fatigue took its toll, as only freshman Michele DaCosta and junior Jen Duprez held on to win the second set. But Tipirneni, Nolan, sophomore Kim Plaushines and freshman Leanne Rutherford lost their remaining sets and gave Wisconsin the 4-3 victory.

"Wisconsin played better in the third sets," Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said. "I'm proud of the effort from us this weekend."

In order to play Wisconsin, Michigan defeated its rival Ohio State for the second time this season. The mood of the match was more intense than during the regular season, and it was apparent in the No. 3 singles match between Nolan and Ohio State's Sadhaf Pervez. In their previous meeting, Nolan beat Pervez in straight sets with little fanfare. This time around, there was passion on both sides of the net.

In the opening set, Nolan was quickly defeated 6-1, but several arguments arose over numerous disputed calls. Both Nolan and Pervez disputed each other's calls on multiple occasions. To make matters worse, spectators from both sides began to make condescending comments towards the opposition. At one point, both players and all spectators were issued warnings by the head umpire to quit the arguing and jeering by finishing the match.

Midway through the second set with Nolan up 3-0, Pervez injured her ankle but continued to play through her injury. Nolan quickly won the second set, 6-1. In the first game of the third set, a ball landed near the line on Pervez's side of the net, which she called out. The referee overruled her decision, which began a tantrum during which Pervez screamed at the referee, pointed to the point where she assumed it was out, threw her racket and began to weep in frustration. As a result, she was assessed a penalty equivalent to one game for Nolan. After just one more game, the match was abandoned because Michigan had gained the four points.

"Sadhaf has a reputation of being difficult on the court," Nolan said. "When I played her earlier in the season, everything was fine. We had issues over line calls, and she was taunting a little bit. It was a tough match mentally."

Michigan won the match thanks to the doubles point and singles victories from DaCosta, Plaushines and Rutherford. Rutherford played particularly well, after being defeated by Ohio State's Michelle Matko 6-2, 6-2 in the regular season. With her first 6-0 victory of the season in the first set, she was already rolling and won the second set, 6-4. Plaushines shared a similar track, winning her match 6-1, 6-2.

Minnesota proved to be no more of a challenge in the postseason than in the regular season, as Michigan cruised to a 6-1 victory. In possibly one of the shortest matches of the season, Michigan won the doubles point once again and won three singles matches to gain four points. DaCosta was one of the three who won her match against Minnesota and was the only player to win all three matches over the weekend. She has adjusted to her role at No. 2 singles - the first freshman to hold that spot for the majority of the season - and has compiled an 11-6 record.

"I felt good coming in and had two good days of practice." DaCosta said of her three victories. "I felt confident and wanted to do my part for the team. (Playing at No.