Spartans Stunned in Big Ten Tournament Semifinal, Falling 4-3 to Michigan

EVANSTON, Ill. – Michigan State Men's Tennis dropped a four-hour thriller in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Saturday, seeing a 3-1 lead erased by second-seeded Michigan to fall by a final score of 4-3.

The 19^th-ranked Spartans turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament, with the Regional first rounds taking place on Friday and Saturday, May 3-4. The selection show announcing the tournament's field of 64 teams will begin at 6 p.m. ET and will be streamed live and for free on NCAA.com.

Match Recap
For the second time in as many days, the Spartans were the first on the board, winning the doubles point. The undefeated pairing of Big Ten first-teamers freshman Aristotelis Thanos and sophomore Ozan Baris claimed victory at the top spot over Michigan's 17^th-ranked top doubles team, 6-2. The team of grad Ronald Hohmann III and Taym Alazmeh finished 6-4 to clinch the first point of the day.

Hohmann kept the momentum going into singles play, doubling MSU's lead with his first win in four matches, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.

After the Wolverines cut the lead back to one at No. 2 doubles, Baris answered back as the national No. 9 topped Michigan's No. 19 Gavin Young on main court, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. The B1G Player of the Year's win put MSU's lead at 3-1, only needing one of the remaining three matches.

The Wolverines bounced back again claiming another point in a three-sets, three-tiebreak thriller in the fourth slot. Collard was down in both the second and third sets, 2-5, but came back twice and took a 6-3 match point lead in the third set tiebreaker. Michigan's Patorn Hanchaikul made a comeback of his own, winning 7-6 [7-], 6-7 [5-7], 7-6 [8-6].

Despite a battle from sophomore David Saye on court six, he would be the next to fall, 6-7 [8-6], 5-7. Then on court five, Sheldon's 1-4 second set comeback was thwarted as he was topped 5-7, 7-5, 4-6, seeing the Wolverines clinch the fourth and deciding point.

Results
Singles
1. #9 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #19 Gavin Young (MICH) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
2. Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) def. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 6-4, 7-5
3. #50 Ronald Hohmann III (MSU) def. Bjorn Swenson (MICH) 6-4, 6-4
4. Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) def. Sebastien Collard (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6)
5. Will Cooksey (MICH) def. Max Sheldon (MSU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
6. Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) def. David Saye (MSU) 7-6 (8-6), 7-5
Doubles
1. Aristotelis Thanos/Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #17 Gavin Young/Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 6-2
2. Ronald Hohmann III/Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. Patorn Hanchaikul/Will Cooksey (MICH) 6-4
3. Mert Oral/Bjorn Swenson (MICH) vs. Graydon Lair/Max Sheldon (MSU) 5-5, unfinished

Match Notes
Michigan State 22-6; National ranking #19
Michigan 16-11; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,2,1,4,6,5)

Spartans Stunned in Big Ten Tournament Semifinal, Falling 4-3 to Michigan

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Taym Alazmeh

Ozan Baris

Sebastien Collard

Ronald Hohmann

Graydon Lair

David Saye

Max Sheldon

Aristotelis Thanos