Michigan Shuts Out Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

Michigan Shuts Out Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)

Score: #6 Michigan 4, Michigan State 0

Records: U-M (9-2, 1-0 B1G), MSU (7-5, 0-1 B1G)

Next U-M Event: Wednesday, March 15 — vs. Iowa (Varsity Tennis Center), 6 p.m.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women’s tennis team won the doubles point and the bottom of the lineup came through with straight-set wins in a 4-0 shutout over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon (March 11) at the Varsity Tennis Center. It was Michigan’s 23rd straight win over the Spartans.

Michigan grabbed the early advantage, taking the doubles point behind wins at No. 2 and No. 3.

Nicole Hammond and Kari Miller combined for a 6-2 victory at No. 2 as the first match off court. The Wolverines fell behind 0-40 in the first game of the match before coming back to win four straight points for the game. U-M got the break it needed at 4-2, with Hammond holding in the next service game to consolidate the break. Miller and Hammond grabbed four match points in the next MSU service game, converting on the fourth for the first win of the afternoon.

Michigan got concurrent breaks at both No. 1 and No. 2, heading back to serve for the win on both courts.

With Andrea Cerdan back to serve at No. 3, she and Merri Kelly fell in a 15-40 hole. The duo methodically worked out of it, tying the game at 40-40 for a match point on the deuce point. Cerdan’s serve forced a Michigan State return long, wrapping up a 6-4 win for the pair.

U-M won five first sets in singles action.

Gala Mesochoritou made quick work of her opponent at No. 5, dropping just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win for Michigan’s second point. After breezing to the first-set win, Mesochoritou won the first three games in the second to put any thought of a Spartan comeback to rest. The Wolverine cashed in our her first match point, breaking Nicole Conard on the deuce point to push Michigan’s lead to 2-0.

Cerdan accounted for Michigan’s third point of the match behind a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 4. She used a well-timed break in the first set to get the win, carrying the momentum over into the second set. Cerdan came through on the deuce point for a 4-0 lead, holding…