EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 21 Northwestern battled No. 14 Michigan to the very end on Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but was narrowly edged in a 4-3 loss.
The Wildcats moved to 18-8 on the season and 6-3 in the Big Ten.
Michigan took an early lead in what proved to be a decisive doubles point. Dominik Stary and Strong Kirchheimer were downed 6-2 at No. 2 doubles to start things off, but Chris Ephron and Michael Lorenzini fought to a 6-3 win at No. 3 to tie doubles up. The ranked doubles matchup at No. 1 between the 39th-ranked duo of Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire and the 17th-ranked pair of Jathan Malik and Conor Johnston proved the decider with Michigan winning 7-5.
The Wolverines extended their lead to 2-0 when Carter Lin knocked off Ben Vandixhorn 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.
The Wildcats stormed back to the tie the match up at 2-2. Jason Seidman coasted past Connor Johnston 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles. No. 39 Strong Kirchheimer picked up a ranked win at No. 1 with a dramatic 6-2, 7-6 win over No. 69 Jathan Malik that ended in a second set tiebreak.
Michigan retook the lead when No. 98 Myles Schalet beat Sam Shropshire 7-5, 6-4 at No. 3 singles to make it 3-2.
Northwestern roared back once more when Dominik Stary finished off Runhao Hua 6-2, 7-5 at No. 4 singles to knot things up at 3-3.
Konrad Zieba took his first set against Alex Knight at No. 2 singles, 6-4, but was outlasted in three sets as Michigan took the win.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next weekend with two crucial home conference matchups. The #B1GCats host Ohio State, ranked second in the country, on Friday and Penn State on Sunday for Senior Day.
No. 14 Michigan 4, No. 21 Northwestern 3
Singles
1. #39 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. #69 Jathan Malik (MICH), 6-2, 7-6
2. Alex Knight (MICH) def. #54 Konrad Zieba (NU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0*
3. #98 Myles Schalet (MICH) def. Sam Shropshire (NU), 7-5, 6-4
4. Dominik Stary (NU) def. Runhao Hua (MICH), 6-2, 7-5
5. Carter Lin (MICH) def. Ben Vandixhorn (NU), 6-1, 6-4
6. Jason Seidman (NU) def. Conor Johnston (MICH), 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 6, 1, 3, 4, 2*
Doubles
1. #17 Jathan Malik / Conor Johnston (MICH) def. #52 Konrad Zieba / Sam Shropshire, 7-5*
2. Alex Knight / Runhao Hua (MICH) def. #57 Dominik Stary / Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 6-2
3. Chris Ephron / Michael Lorenzini (NU) def. Kevin Wong / Myles Schalet (MICH), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1*
The Wildcats moved to 18-8 on the season and 6-3 in the Big Ten.
Michigan took an early lead in what proved to be a decisive doubles point. Dominik Stary and Strong Kirchheimer were downed 6-2 at No. 2 doubles to start things off, but Chris Ephron and Michael Lorenzini fought to a 6-3 win at No. 3 to tie doubles up. The ranked doubles matchup at No. 1 between the 39th-ranked duo of Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire and the 17th-ranked pair of Jathan Malik and Conor Johnston proved the decider with Michigan winning 7-5.
The Wolverines extended their lead to 2-0 when Carter Lin knocked off Ben Vandixhorn 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.
The Wildcats stormed back to the tie the match up at 2-2. Jason Seidman coasted past Connor Johnston 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles. No. 39 Strong Kirchheimer picked up a ranked win at No. 1 with a dramatic 6-2, 7-6 win over No. 69 Jathan Malik that ended in a second set tiebreak.
Michigan retook the lead when No. 98 Myles Schalet beat Sam Shropshire 7-5, 6-4 at No. 3 singles to make it 3-2.
Northwestern roared back once more when Dominik Stary finished off Runhao Hua 6-2, 7-5 at No. 4 singles to knot things up at 3-3.
Konrad Zieba took his first set against Alex Knight at No. 2 singles, 6-4, but was outlasted in three sets as Michigan took the win.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next weekend with two crucial home conference matchups. The #B1GCats host Ohio State, ranked second in the country, on Friday and Penn State on Sunday for Senior Day.
No. 14 Michigan 4, No. 21 Northwestern 3
Singles
1. #39 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. #69 Jathan Malik (MICH), 6-2, 7-6
2. Alex Knight (MICH) def. #54 Konrad Zieba (NU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0*
3. #98 Myles Schalet (MICH) def. Sam Shropshire (NU), 7-5, 6-4
4. Dominik Stary (NU) def. Runhao Hua (MICH), 6-2, 7-5
5. Carter Lin (MICH) def. Ben Vandixhorn (NU), 6-1, 6-4
6. Jason Seidman (NU) def. Conor Johnston (MICH), 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 6, 1, 3, 4, 2*
Doubles
1. #17 Jathan Malik / Conor Johnston (MICH) def. #52 Konrad Zieba / Sam Shropshire, 7-5*
2. Alex Knight / Runhao Hua (MICH) def. #57 Dominik Stary / Strong Kirchheimer (NU), 6-2
3. Chris Ephron / Michael Lorenzini (NU) def. Kevin Wong / Myles Schalet (MICH), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1*