Wolverines Advance to NCAA Championships Quarters in Singles and Doubles

Wolverines Advance to NCAA Championships Quarters in Singles and Doubles

Site: Lake Nona, Fla. (USTA National Campus)

Event: NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships (Day 3 of 6)

Score: No Team Scoring

Next U-M Event: Thursday, May 25 — at NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships (Lake Nona, Fla.), TBA

LAKE NONA, Fla. — For the first time in program history, the University of Michigan women’s tennis team has quarterfinalists in both the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, with Kari Miller winning her singles match and teaming up with Jaedan Brown for a doubles win on Wednesday (May 24) at the USTA National Campus.

Miller advanced to the quarterfinals by dispatching of No. 32-ranked Ariana Arseneault of Auburn in straight sets. She is the third Wolverine in program history to reach the quarterfinals, joining Wolverine legends Kate Fahey and Brienne Minor. Fahey and Minor each made quarterfinal appearances in 2017.

Miller took a 3-1 lead in the first set, breaking Arseneault when she came in and put a volley in the net. Miller fought off a pair of break points in the ensuing game to consolidate the break for a 4-1 lead. The Wolverine won the next two games, wrapping up a 6-1 first-set win.

In the second, Miller broke at love to start but was broken right back to tie the set at 1-1. Miller again broke at love for a 2-1 lead and held in the next game for a 3-1 lead. At 30-30 in that service game, she ran down a lob to force a volley wide for a pair of game points. She converted the next point for the 3-1 lead.

It was all Miller from there as she dropped just one more game and converted on her second match point, countering Arseneault’s drop shot with one of her own to get the win.

In doubles action, Brown and Miller jumped out to a 4-1 lead before San Diego won two straight to get back on serve at 4-3. Rain started to fall during the changeover, causing a delay around 4:35 p.m. The match resumed at 5:23 p.m. indoors with Michigan up 4-3.

Miller made good on a lob winner to get to 30-30 in the ensuing game, with a Brown scramble at the net proving successful for two break points. San Diego fought one off but netted a backhand on the deuce point, giving Michigan a 5-3 lead with Miller back to serve for the set. San Diego was able to return the favor, getting back on serve at 5-4 Michigan.

U-M battled back to a set point on the deuce point, with San Diego double-faulting to give Michigan a 6-4 win.

Michigan had two break points in the first San Diego service game but did not convert, keeping the match on serve after two service games. After the Toreros won the first point of Brown’s service game, U-M ripped off four straight for a straightforward hold at 2-1.

A Miller return winner in the next game gave Michigan two break points, with Brown again making a move at net on the deuce point for a 3-1 Wolverine lead. The duo held in their next service game, grabbing a 4-1 advantage.

After both teams exchanged holds, U-M grabbed a pair of match points and converted on the first one to wrap up the 6-4, 6-2 win. It is just the second quarterfinal appearance for the Wolverines, with Fahey and Minor making the 2019 quarters.

The Wolverines will continue NCAA Tournament action tomorrow (Thursday, May 25).

NCAA Singles Championship Third Round

No. 36 Kari Miller (U-M) d. No. 32 Ariana Arseneault (Auburn), 6-1, 6-2

NCAA Doubles Championship Second Round

No. 3 Kari Miller/Jaedan Brown (U-M) d. No. 19 Kailey Evans/Elizabeth Goldsmith (San Diego), 6-4, 6-2