Michigan Advances to B1G Semifinal with Win Over MSU

Michigan Advances to B1G Semifinal with Win Over MSU

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (IU Tennis Center)

Score: #2 Michigan 4, #7 Michigan State 0

Records: U-M (23-3), MSU (11-14)

Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 29 — vs. Northwestern/Wisconsin at Big Ten Tournament Semifinals (Bloomington, Ind.) 2 p.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The University of Michigan men’s tennis team defeated in-state rival Michigan State, 4-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday (April 28) on the campus of Indiana University.

The B1G Player of the Year Ondrej Styler (11) put on a dominant performance in singles play against the Rookie of the Year Ozan Baris (49) — giving up just one game at No. 1 singles, as he cruised to 6-1, 6-0 win to put Michigan up 2-0. It marks his 12th consecutive win, a career best, as he improves to 24-4 in singles and 18-1 in dual play.

On the next court, Patrick Maloney (35) took control of No. 3 singles jumping out to a 4-0 lead on Luke Baylis. He finished the first set 6-1 and won five straight games and he grabbed a 3-0 edge in the second set. Baylis took two straight games to make it 3-2, but Maloney responded with three straight for the 6-2 win. He is now 12-2 in singles and has won his last three matches.

Andrew Fenty (16) had a tremendous rally at No. 2 singles. Down 3-1, Fenty won five straight games to take the opening set off of Max Sheldon 6-3. In the second set, tied up at 2-2, Fenty won four straight points for the 6-2 win to clinch the team victory for the Wolverines. Fenty moves to 34-6 on the season and 17-6 in dual play.

Maloney and partner Nino Ehrenschneider went up 5-0 and earned a 6-1 at No. 2 doubles. After MSU took a 6-2 match off of Styler and Jacob Bickersteth at No. 3 doubles, Fenty and partner Gavin Young (7) won three of the last four points for a 6-4 final, securing the doubles point for Michigan.

The Wolverines have now won 20 consecutive matches against the Spartans.

Michigan will face the winner of the #3 Northwestern vs. #6 Wisconsin match in tomorrow’s (Saturday, April 29) semifinal. Match time is slated for a 2 p.m., and will be streamed on B1G+.

Following are match-by-match results

Singles

No. 1 – No. 10 Ondrej Styler (U-M) d. No. 49 Ozan Baris (MSU) 6-1,…