Michigan’s Epic Season Ends in NCAA Quarterfinals

Michigan’s Epic Season Ends in NCAA Quarterfinals

Site: Champaign, Ill. (Khan Tennis Complex)

Event: NCAA Tournament (Quarterfinals)

Result: #4 Ohio State 4, #5 Michigan 2

Records: U-M (25-4), Ohio State (28-3)

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

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The No. 5 seeded University of Michigan men’s tennis team fell 4-2 to No. 4 seed Ohio State in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Thursday (May 19) at the Khan Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Illinois.

The Wolverines (25-4) finished their season with the program’s first Elite 8 appearance since 1988, the first Big Ten Tournament Championship since 1996 and third most wins in program history.

It was another wild match between the two Big Ten rivals, as the teams finished the season splitting four matches. After Michigan grabbed the doubles point outdoors, Ohio State (28-3) went on a run in singles before play was halted due to lightning. Play was resumed indoors, but Michigan was not able to battle back from its deficit.

Michigan won the doubles point for the 25th time this season — another bright spot on the year for the program. Patrick Maloney and Nick Beaty took the first win 6-2 at No. 2 doubles, earning their 20th win as a duo this season. The tandem improved to 4-0 against ranked opponents with James Trotter and Justin Boulais checking in at No. 17. The pair fell behind 1-0 but came back to win the next three games and take a 3-1 lead. They gave up just one more game and finished wih a 6-2 victory.

Ondrej Styler and Jacob Bickersteth grabbed a 6-4 decision at No. 3 over Cannon Kingsley and J.J. Tracy. Tied up at 4-4, they won the last two games for the all-important doubles point. No. 24 Nino Ehrenschneider and Andrew Fenty were tied 5-5 with No. 2 ranked Matej Vocel and Robert Cash at No. 1 before it was abandoned.

No. 19-ranked J.J. Tracy put Ohio State on the scoreboard with a win over No. 63 Fenty at No. 3. Tracy went up 6-2 outdoors and resumed with a 6-2 win indoors.

No. 70-ranked Bickersteth went on a run to start his No. 4 singles play. He went up 5-0 over OSU’s No. 122 Jake Van Emburgh. The Buckeye won the next three games to make a 5-3 set…