Giant killer Michael Rubin’s standout performance at the ITA
All-American Championships highlighted a busy weekend for the
Michigan men’s tennis team.
- Janna Hutz
- Sophomore Carey Rubin helped Michigan to a successful weekend, while his brother, Michael, competed in Tennessee. (BRETT MOUNTAIN/Daily)
While Rubin got his accomplishments, the Wolverines hosted the
inaugural Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor.
Held at the Varsity Tennis Center, the event provided Michigan
the opportunity to face off against future opponents Michigan
State, Western Michigan and Ohio State.
Although the results did not affect standings or team rankings,
Michigan gained valuable experience from the three-day event.
“We get a chance to play a lot of matches in the fall,” Michigan
coach Mark Mees said. “It’s a time that we can really step up and
work on the things that we need to work on.”
Michigan displayed balance and consistency throughout the
invitational. With every player in action, the Wolverines posted
records of 13-9 in singles play and 11-7 in doubles matches.
Michigan also managed to win at least half of its matches each
of the three days.
“As a team, I thought we played well, I thought we competed
well,” Mees said. “I was pretty pleased with the way we went after
it this weekend.”
Junior Josef Fischer (2-0 singles, 4-1 doubles) and sophomore
Carey Rubin (4-0 singles, 1-2 doubles) provided the spark for the
Wolverines. Rubin is undefeated in singles play through the first
two tournaments.
While his brother was racking up victories in Ann Arbor, No.
78-ranked junior Michael Rubin left his own mark in Chattanooga,
Tenn. Competing with the nation’s best at the ITA All-American
Championships, the elder Rubin rode four consecutive victories all
the way to the round of 16.
“He really had a great run, the quality of tennis down there is
as good as it gets,” Mees said. “I’m happy for him, because he
works as hard as anybody on our team.”
Before finally succumbing to Old Dominion’s Izak van der Merwe
3-6, 3-6, Rubin knocked out No. 3 Tobias Clemens of UCLA 3-6,
7-6(5), 6-0.
When his remarkable run in Tennessee came to a close, Rubin
hurried home and helped the Wolverines win two more doubles matches
on Sunday.
Michigan will now prepare to take on the region’s best at the
ITA Midwest Championships, to be held Oct. 23-28 in East Lansing.
The event serves as a qualifier for the ITA National Indoor
Championships, which will take place in Ann Arbor Nov. 6-9.