YORK TENNIS BEATS MICHIGAN AT REXALL

For the sixth consecutive year, the York University Lions tennis team hosted a club team from the University of Michigan at the Rexall Centre on Friday (Jan. 13).

The Lions were able to win the exhibition against Michigan with a final overall score of 10-8, highlighted by Julia Khalilova (Etobicoke, Ont.), who won all three of her matches. David Kishlyansky (Thornhill, Ont.) also had an impressive day on the court, winning two of his three matches.

The Lions earned all five women’s doubles points by sweeping Michigan in the first event of the day. The team of Khalilova and Valerie Ushanova (Toronto) got the Lions on the right foot winning the first match, 8-7; while Kelsi Smith (Beeton, Ont.) and Julia Kedrzcki (Kleinburg, Ont.) won, 8-5. Victoria Iantorno (Burlington, Ont.) and Tiffany Au (Markham, Ont.) won their match convincingly, 8-4, followed by an 8-5 victory by Maria Gironda (Toronto) and Ania Roszkowski. The women’s doubles event was capped off with an 8-5 win by Sam Nickel (Mission, B.C.) and Au.

On the men’s doubles side, despite losing two of their three matches in tie-breakers, Michigan won all three matches. Kishlyansky and Iorent Kryeziu (Toronto) lost a close opening match 7-6 (7-3); while Nir Shimony (Toronto) and Elias Faltenhine were downed in a nail-biter, 7-6 (7-5). Kia Khadem (Toronto) and Madih Umair ended the doubles session with a 6-2 loss.

Kishlyansky got the men back on the winning track with a 6-4 win to open the men’s singles matches. Umair followed with a tight 7-5 loss and Shimony capped off men’s singles with a 6-4 victory.

On the women’s side of the singles matches, Smith got the lone win for the Lions, winning 6-5; however, Michigan was able to take two out of three matches.

In the final event of the day, the two sides split the four mixed doubles matches. Khalilova and Shimony won their match, 6-2; and Kishlyansky and Khalilova teamed up for a decisive 6-1 victory in the final match of the day.