Michigan to Host NCAA First and Second Rounds at Varsity Tennis Center

Michigan to Host NCAA First and Second Rounds at Varsity Tennis Center

THIS WEEK
Fri-Sat., May 6-7 – host, NCAA Tournament First / Second Rounds (Varsity Tennis Center) Tournament Central

Friday, May 6 – vs. Western Michigan, 2 p.m.
Live Scoring / Video *
Saturday, May 7 – vs. Oklahoma / Louisville, 1 p.m. (if advance)
Live Scoring / Video *
* Live streaming will be available for matches if played indoors

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. The 5-ranked University of Michigan men’s tennis team (22-3) will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament this Friday and Saturday (May 6-7) at the Varsity Tennis Center. Oklahoma (14-10) and Louisville (19-8) will compete in the first match on Friday (May 6) at 11 am, and Michigan is set to take on Western Michigan (15-8) at 2 pm The winners of Friday’s matches will advance to play Saturday (May 7) at 1 p.m., with the Winner of Saturday’s moving on to the NCAA Super Regional.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is the No. 5 seed for the NCAA Tournament and is ranked No. 5 in the latest ITA computerized ranking, which matches its highest ranking this season. The Wolverines are No. 2 in the USTA / Tennis Channel poll.

• This is the sixth consecutive NCAA bid for the Wolverines and 31st appearance in program history.

• Michigan earned the Big Ten’s automatic bid after defeating No. 2 Ohio State 4-2 in the Big Ten Tournament Championship on May 1. It marked the program’s first conference tournament title since the format changed in 1999, and is the first time winning it since 1996.

• Ondrej Styler was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP and earned a place on the All-Tournament team along with Patrick Maloney.

• Six Wolverines are ranked in singles heading into the tournament, including No. 27 Ondrej Styler, No. 63 Andrew Fenty, No. 70 Jacob Bickersteth, No. 77 Nino Ehrenschneider, No. 88 Maloney and No. 110 Gavin Young. Michigan also has two ranked doubles teams: No. 24 Fenty / Ehrenschneider and No. 29 Styler / Young.

• Ondrej Styler was selected to play at the NCAA Singles Championship, and Andrew Fenty was named as an alternate. The selection is Styler’s first, while Fenty competed in 2019. The teams of Styler and Gavin Youngand Fenty and Nino Ehrenschneider were chosen for the NCAA Doubles Championship. This is the first time Michigan has sent two pairs since 1975.

• Gavin Young was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned a second team All-Big Ten honors. Jacob Bickersteth, Patrick Maloney and Ondrej Styler all earned first-team honors.

• Four Wolverines have reached the 20-win plateau in singles this season: Gavin Young (25), Jacob Bickersteth (22), Patrick Maloney (22) and Ondrej Styler (21). Four have reached that mark in doubles: Nino Ehrenschneider (22), Andrew Fenty (22), Nick Beaty (21) and Maloney (21).

• Gavin Young lead the Wolverines with 25 singles wins and a 14-3 dual mark. He won the Big Ten singles Championship in the fall.

• Ondrej Styler has lost just once in his last 16 matches and is riding a five-match win streak. Earlier this spring, he strung together 10 consecutive wins. Styler is 21-4 in singles play and 17-3 in dual action, including a 12-1 mark at No. 1 singles.

• Nino Ehrenschneider enters with the Longest singles win streak on the team, having won his last 10. He is 18-4 overall and 12-1 in dual play, and went a perfect 5-0 in Big Ten play.

• Jacob Bickersteth has won his last six singles matches and has lost just twice this spring with a 16-2 dual record. He is 22-8 overall.

• Other Wolverines with career win streaks this season include Nick Beaty (12), Patrick Maloney (11), Ondrej Styler (10), Gavin Young (seven) and Jacob Bickersteth (7).

• The team of Patrick Maloney and Nick Beaty had a 12-match win streak in doubles come to an end last weekend. The pair is 15-2 in dual play and 16-3 overall.

• The duo of Andrew Fenty/Nino Ehrenschneider are 9-5 in Duals and 17-5 overall. The pair reached the second round of the ITA Fall Nationals in November. Ondrej Styler and Gavin Young are 8-5 as a duo.

• Michigan has dominated in doubles action, winning the point in 21 of its 25 matches.

• Western Michigan is making its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance, as both the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament champions. Michigan holds a 58-8 record over WMU in the all-time series and has won the last nine matches, including a 4-1 Victory on Jan. 21.

• Oklahoma is making its 12th straight appearance and is an at-large selection this season. The Sooners are 14-10 on the season and fell to No. 1-ranked TCU in the Big 12 semifinals on April 23. Oklahoma has a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan, but the Wolverines won the most recent meeting – a 4-2 decision in 2019.

• Louisville is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and 13th overall. The Squad reached the ACC semifinals this spring and is 19-8 on the season. Michigan holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, and the programs have not met since 2014.