Michigan Tops Cal to Advance to NCAA Super Regional

Michigan Tops Cal to Advance to NCAA Super Regional

Site: Ann Arbor Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)

Score: #7 Michigan 4, Cal 0

Records: U-M (26-4), Cal (13-11)

Next U-M Event: Friday, May 12 — vs. USC – NCAA Tournament Super Regional (Varsity Tennis Center) 4 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan men’s tennis team posted a 4-0 win over the University of California in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday (May 7) at the Varsity Tennis Center.

Now at 26-4 on the season, Michigan’s 26 wins are the second most in program history, tying the mark from 1988.

The Wolverines improve to 21-0 when winning the doubles point as the No. 3 and No. 2 pairs came up with wins. Ondrej Styler and Jacob Bickersteth captured their second straight win on the weekend with a 6-3 match at No. 3. Tied at 3-3, the duo rattled off three straight games for the win. Two courts over Patrick Maloney and Nino Ehrenschneider got momentum on their side when they broke the Bears to take a 4-3 lead and held serve on their next two games for the 6-4 decision. No. 7 ranked Andrew Fenty and Gavin Young had just earned their second break of the match against No. 81 ranked Yuta Kickuchu and Carl Overbeck to take a 5-3 edge before it was called.

Michigan started singles with its foot on the gas, winning five of six first sets.

Young captured the first singles win for the Maize & Blue at No. 5, taking down Philp Hkorth 6-3, 6-2. He began both sets on 3-0 runs for this 22nd singles win of the season.

Moments later, Bickersteth celebrated his two-set victory at No. 6. His 20th singles win of the season was a 6-3, 6-2 win over Siddhant Banthia, his second singles win of the weekend.

No. 8 Styler clinched the match for the Wolverines at No. 1 with a win over No. 27 Kikuchi. Styler won two break points in a 6-2 first set and dominated in the second, allowing just one game and winning five straight for the 6-1 second set.

The Wolverines will host No. 10 seed University of Southern California next Friday (May 12) at 4 p.m. at the VTC in the NCAA Super Regional.

Following are match-by-match results

Singles

No. 1 – No. 8 Ondrej Styler (U-M) d. No. 27 Yuta Kikuchi (Cal) 6-2, 6-1

No. 2 – No. 44 Patrick Maloney (U-M) vs. Ryder…