Styler Clinches in Tiebreaker to Send Michigan to Elite Eight

Styler Clinches in Tiebreaker to Send Michigan to Elite Eight

Site: Ann Arbor Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)

Event: NCAA Super Regional

Score: #7 Michigan 4, #10 USC 3

Records: U-M (27-4), USC (21-8)

Next U-M Event: Thursday, May 18 — vs. #2 TCU or #16 Mississippi State – NCAA Quarterfinals (Orlando, Fla.), TBD

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Senior Ondrej Styler was the hero as he cliched a 4-3 match for the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan men’s tennis team as they defeated No. 10 USC in an NCAA Super Regional match on Friday (May 12) at the Varsity Tennis Center, sending the Wolverines to the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight season.

U-M advance to the Elite Eight and will play Thursday (May 18) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., against the winner of Sunday’s (May 14) No. 2 TCU vs. No. 16 Mississippi State match.

It was a nailbiter at the VTC, a match that saw both teams with spurts of momentum. It was No. 8-ranked Styler that had the final say in a third-set tiebreaker with No. 25 Stefan Dostanic. Dostanic took the first set 7-5 and Styler won the second 6-3. Styler had a chance to put Dostanic away as he led 5-3, but the Trojan held him off winning two match points to tie it at 5-5. After trading breaks, the two headed into a seven-point tiebreaker. Styler jumped out to a 4-1 advantage, but Dostanic scored three straight points to make it 4-4. After trading points, Styler served up a ball that Dostanic returned out and on the proceeding point, Dostanic double-faulted for the 7-5 tiebreak.

Michigan looked to be in complete control when the match started, dominating in doubles play. Patrick Maloney and Nino Ehrenschneider took a 6-1 match from No. 45-ranked Bradley Frye and Learner Tien. No. 7-ranked Andrew Fenty and Gavin Young followed with a 6-1 decision at No. 1 over Samuel Rubell and Wotjek Marek to take the opening point.

The tide turned as singles began with the Trojans winning four of six first sets, with Fenty and Young winning for the Wolverines at Nos. 3 and 5.

Jacob Bickersteth had a two-match win streak halted by Lodewijk Westrate at No. 6 and at No. 2, Learner Tien ended Maloney’s five-match win streak as USC took a 2-1 lead in the team score.

No. 20 Fenty won…