U-M Sends Seniors Out With Victory Over No. 25 Illinois to End Regular Season

U-M Sends Seniors Out With Victory Over No. 25 Illinois to End Regular Season

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)

Score: #7 Michigan 6, #25 Illinois 1

Records: U-M (22-3, 8-1 B1G), Illinois (18-10, 6-3 B1G)

Next U-M Event: Friday, April 28 — at Big Ten Quarterfinals (Bloomington, Ind.), 1:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan men’s tennis team sent out its seniors on a high note as it posted a 6-1 win over No. 25 Illinois in the regular-season finale on Sunday (April 23) at the Varsity Tennis Center.

Patrick Maloney and Nino Ehnrenschneider posted a win over a ranked duo at No. 2 doubles, taking down No. 55 Oliver Okonkwo and Mathis Debru 6-3. It marked the duo’s third straight victory. Ondrej Styler and Jacob Bickersteth followed with a 6-4 win at No. 3, the pair’s fourth consecutive victory.

Following its clinching of the doubles point, Michigan honored its three seniors in Maloney, Styler and Andrew Fenty. The trio combined for a 94-23 record and a 37-8 mark in the Big Ten. Together they posted a 241-94 singles record and a 223-86 doubles record.

On his Senior Day, Maloney captured his 70th career win with a 6-4, 6-2 match over No. 90 Alex Petrov. Maloney is now 8-2 in his career when playing ranked opponents.

With his 11th straight singles win, Styler surpassed his previous best career win streak, taking down Hunter Heck 6-4, 7-6 (5). He improves to 21-3 on the season, 17-1 in dual match play, and finished the league with a perfect 6-0 record.

Ehrenschneider clinched the match for Michigan with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over William Mroz at No. 4. Ehrenschneider enters the postseason winning his last three singles matches and a 5-1 record in the Big Ten.

Moments later, Bickersteth won his second set in a tiebreaker with a 7-6 (5) set over Kenta Miyoshi. He grabbed the first set 6-4 to make it three in a row and lift Michigan to a 5-0 advantage.

With Gavin Young and Fenty in third sets, the teams decided to the play out the match.

Young rallied after dropping his first set to Oliver Okonkwo with matching 6-4 wins to push Michigan ahead 6-0.

No. 11 Fenty was upended in the third set 7-5 by No. 48 Karlis Ozolins in the Fighting Illini’s lone win on the afternoon.

The Big…