If you: Evanston, Ill. (Vandy Christie Tennis Center)
Score: Michigan 4, Michigan State 3
Records: UM (16-11), MSU (22-6)
Next UM Event: Sunday, April 28 — vs. #1 Ohio State – Big Ten Tournament Championship (Evanston, Ill.), Noon CDT
EVANSTON, Ill. — The University of Michigan men’s tennis team rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the team match to defeat No. 19 Michigan State 4-3 in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday (April 27) at the Christie Tennis Center on campus of Northwestern. With the win, UM advances to the Big Ten Tournament Championship against another rival, No. 1-ranked Ohio State, On Sunday (April 28) at noon CDT.
In a match that lasted more than five hours, the Wolverines outlasted the Spartans to keep their 20-year win streak intact at 23 straight matches and take their place in their third straight Big Ten Championship tilt.
After MSU took the doubles point, singles Nos. 1-4 took the courts with weather affecting playability on the middle courts leaving Nos. 5 and 6 to wait. MSU went up 3-1 leaving all four remaining matches must-win matches for Michigan.
Patorn Hanchaikul and Sebastian Collard played three tie-breaker sets in an ultimate face off. Hanchaikul led 5-2 in the third set before Collard won four straight games to take a 6-5 lead. Hanchaikul responded to force yet another tiebreaker. Collard this time took the lead going up 5-2 before Hanchaikul fought off four straight match points to come back and win the tiebreak 7-6 and pushed Michigan within one, 3-2.
At that moment, Will Cooksey was up 2-0 in his third set on No. 5 and Nicholas Steiglehner he was up 4-1 in his second set after having won his first 7-6 (6).
The Spartans made a push and Cooksey found himself knotted at 4-4 with Max Sheldon, while Steiglehner lost four straight to trail David Saye 5-4. Steiglehner dug deep and captured three straight games to win the match 7-5.
Cooksey broke Sheldon to take a 5-4 lead on court six and with all eyes on the deciding match, he held serve to win 6-4.
MSU’s change in doubles pair from one week ago was an advantage as they won at No. 1 and No. 2 to take the early 1-0 lead. No. 50-ranked Ronhald Hohmann got revenge for his loss to Bjorn Swenson last week, winning with matching 6-4 scores. Jacob Bickersteth took down Aristotelis Thanos 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2 singles before No. 9 Ozan Baris defeated No. 19 Gavin Young 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 – No. 9 Ozan Baris (Michigan State) d. No. 19 Gavin Young (UM), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
No. 2 – Jacob Bickersteth (UM) d. Aristotelis Thanos (Michigan State), 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 – No. 50 Ronald Hohmann d. Bjorn Swenson (UM), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 – Patorn Hanchaikul (UM) d. Sebastian Collard (Michigan State), 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6)
No. 5 – Will Cooksey (UM) d. Max Sheldon (Michigan State), 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
No 6 – Nicholas Steiglehner (UM) vs. David Saye (Michigan State), 7-6 (6), 7-5
Doubles
No. 1 – Aristotelis Thanos/Ozan Baris (Michigan State) d. No. 17 Gavin Young/Jacob Bickersteth (UM), 6-2
No. 2 – Ronald Hohmann/Taym Alazmeh (Michigan State) d. Patorn Hanchaikul/Will Cooksey (UM), 6-4
No. 3 – Mert Oral/Bjorn Swenson (UM) vs. Graydon Lair/Max Sheldon (Michigan State,) 5-5 abandoned
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-2, Singles 3-2-1-4-6-5
