‘M’ Notes

At the U.C. Santa Barbara Invitational this weekend, the
Michigan water polo team lost to No. 5 San Diego State 5–3 on
Sunday. Kerney scored two goals and Megan Hausmann scored one.

Michigan beat No. 7 Loyola Marymount 3–2 on Saturday.

Michigan struck first with a power-play goal by junior Sheetal
Narsai in the first quarter.

After a Loyola goal early in the second period, senior Julie
Nisbet’s goal regained the lead for the Wolverines heading
into the second half.

Narsai scored one more in the fourth quarter. Junior goaltender
Betsy Armstrong finished the low scoring game with 10 saves to keep
Michigan on top.

Michigan finished the day with a 6–4 loss to No. 1
Southern Cal. The Wolverines took their only lead of the game early
in the second before Southern Cal. pulled away after three straight
goals.

Nisbet and junior Casey Kerney scored two goals a piece, and
Armstrong made 15 saves in a losing effort.

— Katie Niemeyer

 

Softball loses final two at Leadoff Classic

The Michigan softball team wrapped up a busy Spring Break on
Sunday with a 4-0 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma at the NFCA Leadoff
Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Wolverines finished the tournament
with a 3-2 record and reached the Gold Bracket playoffs for the
fifth time in eight appearances. The NFCA Leadoff Classic is
considered one of the top non conference softball tournaments in
the country.

On Saturday, No. 7 Michigan finished pool play with a 3-0
record, with wins over No. 14 Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Georgia
Tech. Senior Jennifer Olds led the Wolverines throughout pool play,
hitting three homeruns, including the game-winner against Georgia
Tech.

After finishing in first place in Pool One, Michigan advanced to
the Gold Bracket quarterfinal contest to face No. 20 South
Carolina. Despite a strong performance from sophomore Jennie
Ritter, who struck out 13 batters without issuing a walk, the
Wolverines lost 2-1 in eight innings. Sophomore Tiffany Haas drove
in Michigan’s only run in the third.

Following the quarterfinal loss, Michigan moved onto the Gold
Bracket consolation semifinals to take on Oklahoma. Junior Nicole
Motycka took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits in four-plus
innings. Ritter came in on relief and struck out six batters in the
final 2-plus innings. The Wolverines’ 4-0 loss eliminated
them from the tournament, while the Sooners advanced to the
consolation final against Central Michigan.

Michigan was led by strong pitching throughout the tournament,
as the Wolverines’ pitchers finished with 40 strikeouts and
three walks in 36.1 innings. Ritter performed consistently in each
of her two appearances, going 1-1 with a 0.79 earned run average,
while striking out 27 batters and walking one in 17-plus innings.
Senior Monica Schock led the team with a .364 average, going
4-for-11, while junior Jessica Merchant went 4-for-13. Olds also
had four hits, matching Schock and Merchant, to help the team in
the tournament.

— Stephanie Wright

 

Tennis sweeps on Hawaiian adventure

The Michigan women’s tennis team got to spend its spring
break in Hawaii for winning the Leaders and Best award for
receiving the highest grade point average of any Michigan sports
team. But, in receiving their free trip, the Wolverines
weren’t done performing.

Michigan dominated on the court on Saturday, winning 11 out of
12 singles matches en route to a sweep of Long Beach State and
Hawaii by scores of 6-1 and 7-0, respectively. The wins upped
Michigan’s record to 7-0, its best start since the 1989-90
season.

Junior Michelle DeCosta, freshman Elizabeth Exon, senior Kavitha
Tipireni and junior Leanne Rutherford all won two matches each.

— Staff Reports