Michigan Women’s Tennis Dominates in NCAA First Round
A Perfect Start to the Tournament
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan women’s tennis team delivered a stellar performance in their first round of the NCAA Tournament, securing an impressive 4-0 victory against Youngstown State at the heart of Ann Arbor, the Varsity Tennis Center.
Quick Match Summary
- Event Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
- Event: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
- Final Score: #3 Michigan 4, Youngstown State 0
- Records: U-M (24-4), YSU (14-8)
- Next Match: Saturday, May 3 – vs. Arizona State – NCAA Tournament Second Round (Varsity Tennis Center), 1 p.m.
Early Dominance: Doubles Point Secured
Michigan seized control from the onset, capturing the doubles point with remarkable ease, dropping only four games across three matches. The pairing of Ava Bruno and Bayley Sheinin showcased outstanding synergy, winning their match 6-0—an electrifying start for Bruno in her NCAA Tournament debut.
Bruno and Sheinin’s victory set the tone, but the excitement didn’t stop there. The top duo of Lily Jones and Jessica Bernales wasted no time in adding more momentum, racing to a 6-4 victory by dominating early in their match.
Singles Showdown: A Clean Sweep
As the singles matches commenced, Michigan continued to assert their dominance, winning all first sets. Emily Sartz-Lunde clinched an early win, sealing the set at 7-5 before her teammates pushed the score upward.
Key Performers:
Jessica Bernales extended the lead to 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 6. Her second set performance was particularly impressive, allowing her to not drop a single game and marking her 20th win of the season.
Julia Fliegner was equally unstoppable, claiming Michigan’s third point with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1. Fliegner broke her opponent’s serve at the perfect moments—solidifying her 30th match victory this season.
- Finally, Piper Charney clinched the match for the Wolverines, dominating her opponent for a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 2. Charney’s achievement capped off a spectacular day for Michigan.
Match Details
Singles Results:
- Julia Fliegner (U-M) d. Julia Marko (Youngstown State) – 6-1, 6-3
- Piper Charney (U-M) d. Lili Minich (Youngstown State) – 6-2, 6-0
- Lily Jones (U-M) vs. Yeseniia Ovcharova (Youngstown State), score 6-1, 5-4 (abandoned)
- Emily Sartz-Lunde (U-M) vs. Lorena Cedeno (Youngstown State), score 7-5, 1-0 (abandoned)
- Reese Miller (U-M) vs. Ghada Dirninger (Youngstown State), score 6-3, 5-0 (abandoned)
- Jessica Bernales (U-M) d. Yoana Dudova (Youngstown State) – 6-4, 6-0
Doubles Results:
- Lily Jones/Jessica Bernales (U-M) d. Ghada Dirninger/Julia Marko (Youngstown State) – 6-2
- Julia Fliegner/Reese Miller (U-M) vs. Lili Minich/Line Greyling (Youngstown State) – 5-2 (abandoned)
- Ava Bruno/Bayley Sheinin (U-M) d. Lorena Cedeno/Lydia Foster (Youngstown State) – 6-0
Order of Completion: Doubles – 3-1, Singles – 6-1-2
Looking Ahead
With this commanding victory, the Wolverines advance to face Arizona State on Saturday, May 3, for the NCAA Tournament’s second round. As the excitement builds, fans are encouraged to rally behind the team, showing their unwavering support.
For more updates and information on the Michigan women’s tennis team, visit the official Michigan Athletics site.
Join us as we cheer for the Wolverines in their quest for glory in the NCAA Tournament! Go Blue!
