Michigan Falls at Texas in NCAA Second Round

Michigan Falls at Texas in NCAA Second Round

Site: Austin, Texas (Texas Tennis Center)

Event: NCAA Tournament Second Round

Result: #3 Texas 4, #18 Michigan 0

Records: U-M (20-6), UT (22-4)

Next U-M Event: Mon-Sat., May 23-28 — at NCAA Singles Championship (Champaign, Ill), TBA

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AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan women’s tennis team saw the team portion of its season come to a close Saturday (May 7), as the Wolverines fell 4-0 to defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Texas at the Texas Tennis Center. Michigan ended the season with 20 wins — it’s 12th 20-win season in program history — and the Big Ten Tournament title.

Texas got on the board first, taking the doubles point behind a 6-1 win at No. 2 and a 6-3 win at No. 3. Michigan’s No. 1 pair of Jaedan Brown and Julia Fliegner were down 5-1 before winning three straight games to get back on serve, but Texas won three straight games at No. 3 to turn a 3-3 tie into a 6-3 win and negating the comeback attempt.

The Longhorns quickly took control in singles matches, winning at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4.

Michigan tried to turn first sets at No. 5 and No. 6, with Fliegner fighting off a pair of set points to tie it at 5-5 and Gala Mesochoritou grabbing a 5-4 lead after falling behind a break early. Neither Wolverine could complete their first-set comebacks as they each fell, 7-5.

Texas put a point on the board with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1, with No. 2-ranked Peyton Stearns getting the win. The Longhorns extended their lead to 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4.

Brown won Michigan’s only set of the afternoon after that, fighting off three set points on Kylie Collins’ serve to tie the set at 5-5. Neither player could hold serve in their next service games, sending the first set to a breaker. The tiebreaker was back and forth as Brown turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead. Collins ripped off two straight points for set point, but Brown was able to save it. The Wolverine fought off one more set point before taking an 8-7 lead en route to the 9-7 win.

Texas ended the match a few moments later behind a straight-set win at No. 4.

Kari Miller will represent Michigan at the NCAA Singles Championship, running May 23-28 at the…