The Michigan women’s tennis team had players competing across the country this weekend, with freshman Kate Fahey advancing to the finals of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational while Brienne Minor reaching the consolation finals of the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.
For Wolverines’ head coach Ronni Bernstein, the results weren’t that surprising.
“I think they’re only going to work harder and get better,” Bernstein said. “It’s been great to watch them have this success.”
Minor had the most success at the NIIC in Flushing, N.Y., finishing second in the singles consolation final after losing to California’s Klara Fabikova, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Minor bounced back strong after losing her opening match by winning three consecutive matches to reach the consolation finals.
“I thought I played pretty well,” Minor said. “I don’t think I started off too well. It was mainly nerves. Throughout the tournament, I started to play better.”
Despite the loss in the consolation final, Minor’s run in the event capped a successful fall season that included a singles title at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships.
“It’s helped me adjust because I was really nervous at the beginning,” Minor said. “Being able to get some wins helped my confidence and my game.”
While Minor and senior Ronit Yurovsky were competing in the NIIC, three of their teammates were playing at the ASU Thunderbird Invitation on the other side of the country in Tempe, including Fahey.
Fahey won her first four matches without dropping a set before losing to the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Arizona State’s Desirae Krawcyzk, 6-2, 6-4.
The finish was the culmination of a strong fall season for the freshman, who has performed well in both singles and doubles play. At the Thunderbird Invitational, Fahey showed off her versatility, winning a doubles match with sophomore Mira Ruder-Hook against Texas’ Neda Koprcina and Danielle Wagland, 8-2.
But Fahey’s teammates were unable to advance as far in the singles draw.
Ruder-Hook won in the first round against Northern Arizona’s Emelia Box, 6-1, 6-0, before losing her next two matches. She won her last match of the event, however, when she beat Northern Arizona’s Marta Lewadowska, 6-0, 7-6.
Sophomore Kara Hall finished with the same win-loss record on the weekend as Ruder-Hook. Hall dropped her first round match to Lewadowska before winning two of her next three matches in the consoloation bracket.
Michigan will look to build on its fall season results during the offseason, while also healing from injuries.
“I think it helped. There was a lot of good play,” Bernstein said. “I think we need to get healthy. There were a couple players missing because of injury.”
The Wolverines have until Jan. 16 to rest and recover before the start of the spring season at the Michigan Invitational.