The last two times were so nice, the Michigan women’s tennis team just had to do it again.
Coming off high-octane quarter and semi-final wins in the Big Ten Tournament, the No. 2 Wolverines (26-3 overall, 11-0 Big Ten) only had No 12. rivals Ohio State (19-7, 10-1) standing in the way of their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title. And after losing last year’s tournament to Michigan, the visiting Buckeyes fought hard for each point, but their efforts were not enough to stop the determined Wolverines.
“We know them well,” Michigan coach Ronni Bernstein said. “And our girls know their girls, but still, every day is a new day and I thought we handled them well.”
Experience did not necessarily translate into success for Michigan in doubles. On court two, freshmen Piper Charney and Reese Miller continued to play at the dominant pace that they had been showing throughout the Tournament, taking a straightforward 6-1 win.
In contrast, No. 8 seniors Kari Miller and Jaedan Brown struggled to find their footing against No. 31 Irina Cantos Siemers and Luciana Perry, as the Wolverine pair often found themselves chasing after balls all over the court. Everything seemed to be going Ohio State’s way on court one, and their most valuable points were picked up when they broke both Brown and Kari’s serves. Although a lot of games were played to the deuce, the Buckeyes’ 6-2 win was reflective of their command.
With the first two doubles matches split, the doubles point was up to sophomore Lily Jones and junior Julia Fliegner on court three. And only holding a narrow 5-4 advantage, some would crumble under the pressure, but Fliegner and Jones did not.
“I definitely saw nerves here today,” Bernstein said. “But that makes you better, right? When you’re put in those situations, you feel you can come through.”
The pair was on the same wavelength throughout the match, but especially in the waning moments of the match. With Jones’ volleys combined with Fliegner’s powerful cross-court forehands from the baseline, the Wolverines took a decisive win in both the game and the set, ensuring the doubles point.
Even though Michigan had won the doubles point, Ohio State was still in it, and the Buckeyes would undoubtedly continue to give the Wolverines a run for their money in singles play.
And this was evident from early on.
Senior Gala Mesochoritou fought hard but was unable to compete against Perry’s quick feet and unpredictable strokes, while Brown was narrowly bested 6-4, 6-3.
The two Michigan losses were mitigated by Charney’s third-set win on court six, evening the score of the match, 2-2.
After playing their doubles game together, No. 27 Fliegner and No. 78 Jones split up to play their singles matches, but still played very similarly. Both placed accurate shots that targeted the sidelines, but their inability to break their opponents’ serves put them both in a 5-5 tie in the first set.
Jones was quick to capitalize on her opponents’ poor positioning by sending balls to her feet, forcing difficult half-volleys that pushed Jones to a 7-5 first set win. And taking the winning energy into the second set, Jones closed her match with a 6-3 victory.
Fliegner, on the other hand, was very evenly matched against the Buckeyes’ Sydni Ratliff. After a 5-5 first set score turned into 6-6, the two were set to play a first set tiebreaker, in which an impatient Fliegner made simple mistakes conceded the first four points. But after breaking Ratliff’s serve to pull a point back, Fliegner composed herself to win the next six consecutive points, taking the first set.
“It’s not too much strategy at that point, it’s just fighting,” Bernstein said. “You gotta step up, right? I mean they’re not gonna give it to us.”
Fliegner’s second set was equally close, and when tied at 5-5, the two opponents knew they could take no chances. Strong serves and forehand play propelled Fliegner to a match point. Ratliff tried her hardest to fight it off, but when a powerful Fliegner stroke targeted her backhand, Ratliff’s return went straight at the middle of the net.
Kari, holding a match point in the adjacent court, left her match as Fliegner’s teammates joined her to celebrate, for Michigan had secured its third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title.
After taking a series hard-fought matches on all courts, the Wolverines lifted the trophy that solidified them as the dominant force in the Big Ten. And with its sights locked on the NCAA Tournament, Michigan shows no signs of slowing down.