Michigan’s Rally Falls Short Against Georgia in NCAA Quarterfinals

Michigan’s Rally Falls Short Against Georgia in NCAA Quarterfinals

Site: Lake Nona, Fla. (USTA National Campus)

Event: NCAA Tournament (Quarterfinals)

Score: #3 Georgia 4, #5 Michigan 0

Records: U-M (25-4), UGA (26-4)

Next U-M Event: Mon-Sat., May 22-27 — at NCAA Individual Championships (Lake Nona, Fla), TBA

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LAKE NONA, Fla. — The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women’s tennis team forced third sets at two singles positions but ran out of time trying to mount a comeback, falling 4-0 to No. 4-seed and No. 3-ranked Georgia in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday evening (May 17) at the USTA National Campus.

Michigan forced third sets at No. 1 and No. 2, with Gala Mesochoritou up a break at No. 6 trying to force a third. Lily Jones was trying to do the same at No. 5, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after dropping the first set in a tiebreaker. She held several set points in the final games of the second set but could not convert as Michigan’s comeback attempt was thwarted.

Georgia took the doubles point for the early 1-0 lead. After the Bulldogs won a 6-1 match at No. 3, Michigan countered with a 6-4 win at No. 1 from Andrea Cerdan and Jaedan Brown. The Wolverine pair went up a break at 3-1, but Georgia answered with two straight games to get the match back on serve at 3-3. Both teams held serve over the next several games before Georgia went back to serve to stay in the match at 5-4 Michigan. U-M grabbed two match points, cashing in on the second to even the doubles ledger at a match apiece.

Michigan’s No. 2 pair of Jones and Julia Fliegner raced out to a 4-0 lead before Georgia crept back in the match to get back within 4-3. With Michigan still up a break, Jones held on her serve for a 5-3 lead. Michigan had a chance to serve out the match at 5-4 but was broken, with the match eventually heading to a tiebreaker. U-M grabbed a 3-2 lead but it did not last as the Bulldogs reeled off four straight points for a 6-3 lead. The Wolverines fought off one match point but could not fight off the next as the Bulldogs rallied for the doubles point.

Georgia took all six first sets, winning three of them in tiebreakers to take control of singles action.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 3-0…