URBANA, Ill. – No. 19 Fighting Illini men’s tennis fell to Michigan, 4-2, at Atkins Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.
Illinois falls to 10-8 on the year and 1-3 in conference play while Michigan goes even at 10-10 and 4-0 in Big Ten action.
“We don’t handle adversity well as a team,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “It even shows on our bench. So we need to step up and compete the whole way through. It’s April, and that’s what we are focusing on.”
Doubles began with Mathis Debru and Kenta Miyoshi defeating Will Cooksey and Alex Cairo 6-1. After Hunter Heck and William Mroz lost 6-4 to No. 27-ranked Gavin Young and Jacob Bickerstetn, Michigan claimed the doubles point when Bjorn Swenson and Mert Oral beat Lucas Horve and Tyler Bowers, 6-4.
No. 83-ranked Miyoshi started singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Swenson to even the match up at 1-1.
Michigan took the lead back when Nicholas Steiglehner defeated Bowers, 7-5, 6-2. Alex Petrov evened the match at 2-2 after a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Bickersteth.
After a Horve loss, the Wolverines clinched the match when No. 15-ranked Young beat No. 47-ranked Heck 7-6 (8), 2-6, 6-1.
Up next
The Illini will face Nebraska on April 5 at 6 p.m. CT in Lincoln, Neb., before heading to Madison, Wis., to take on Wisconsin at 2 p.m. CT on April 7.
Results
Doubles competition
1. #27 Gavin Young/Jacob Bickersteth (UM) def. Hunter Heck/William Mroz (ILL) 6-4
2. Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Will Cooksey/Alex Cairo (UM) 6-1
3. Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (UM) def. Lucas Horve/Tyler Bowers (ILL) 6-4
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