Wolverines Punch Ticket to B1G Championship Match

Wolverines Punch Ticket to B1G Championship Match

Site:West Lafayette, Ind. (Schwartz Tennis Center)

Event: Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)

Score: #5 Michigan 4, #21 Wisconsin 0

Records: U-M (21-3), UW (19-6)

Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 30 — vs. Ohio State — Big Ten Tournament Final (West Lafayette, Ind.), Noon

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women’s tennis team punched its ticket to its 18th straight championship match, shutting out No. 21 Wisconsin 4-0 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday (April 29) at the Schwartz Tennis Center. U-M won the doubles point and the first three singles matches off court to record its 10th straight match victory.

Michigan weathered a slow start in doubles to take the first point of the match, winning the final two matches off court to wrap up the early lead.

U-M was broken in its first service games at both No. 1 and No. 2 as Wisconsin grabbed some early momentum. At the same time, Michigan’s No. 3 duo of Kari Miller and Merri Kelly grabbed two breaks at 3-0 before Wisconsin got on the board at 3-1.

The Badgers rolled to a 6-0 win at No. 2, but U-M’s top pair of Jaedan Brown and Andrea Cerdan were able to turn their match around at No. 1. After losing the first game, Michigan won three straight for a 3-1 lead before Wisconsin answered right back with a break to get back on serve at 3-2. Michigan did not allow the Badgers to consolidate the break, answering yet again to pull ahead at 4-2.

Miller and Kelly wrapped up a drama-free 6-1 win at No. 3, winning the final three games to even the doubles ledger to turn attention to No. 1. Cerdan held on her serve for a 5-2 Michigan lead, sending Wisconsin back to serve to stay in the match. The Badgers held four game points, but Michigan reeled off four straight points, winning on a double fault on deuce point to take a 6-2 win for the doubles point.

In singles action, Michigan took four first sets as Lily Jones, Miller and Kelly each rallied from early deficits to take their first sets. Brown accounted for Michigan’s fourth first set, breezing to a 6-0 win at the top spot.

Jones pushed Michigan’s lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 4. Jones reeled off 11 straight games after…