Michigan Rallies for NCAA Tourney Win over ETSU

Friday, May 13

Winston-Salem, N.C.

1:00 PM

Michigan

East Tennessee State

5/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

By: Sarah VanMetre

Kevin Wong

» With Michigan in a 3-2 hole, Davis Crocker won his final two games at No. 6, and Kevin Wong held on to an early third-set break to push Michigan to the 4-3 win.
» U-M also got a singles win from Carter Lin at No. 3 to go with the doubles point for its four points.
» Michigan advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. (Wake Forest Tennis Complex)
Event: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
Score: #24 Michigan 4, East Tennessee State 3
Records: U-M (20-7), ETSU (18-6)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 14 -- vs. Wake Forest -- NCAA Tournament Second Round (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 3 p.m.

• Photo Gallery

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Facing a 3-2 team deficit, junior Kevin Wong and junior/sophomore Davis Crocker came through with a pair of three-set wins as the No. 24-ranked University of Michigan men's tennis team rallied for a 4-3 win over East Tennessee State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon (May 13) at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind the doubles point and a win at No. 3 by sophomore Carter Lin.

ETSU responded with three straight singles wins, winning at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 2 for a 3-2 lead.

Wong broke early in the third set and was up 4-2 when the Bucs took the lead, while Crocker was tied at 5-5 in his final set. Crocker pulled out his final two games for the 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 6 for U-M's third point.

Wong followed moments later with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory as he was able to keep the break throughout the final frame to clinch Michigan's win.

After dropping a 7-5 match at No. 2 in doubles action, Michigan won the last two matches to jump out to the 1-0 lead.

Michigan's No. 3 pair of junior Tyler Gardiner and freshman Myles Schalet got the Wolverines on the board with a 7-5 win of their own to even the doubles count.

At No. 1, junior/sophomore Alex Knight and sophomore Runhao Hua broke late to grab a 7-5 win and stake Michigan the early lead.

Michigan will face No. 6 Wake Forest tomorrow (Saturday, May 14) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The match will begin at 3 p.m.

Following are match-by-match results

Singles
No. 1 -- No. 80 David Biosca (ETSU) d. Alex Knight (U-M), 7-5, 6-4
No. 2 -- Rogerio Ribeiro (ETSU) d. No. 96 Jathan Malik (U-M), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2
No. 3 -- Carter Lin (U-M) d. Diego Nunez (ETSU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 -- Robert Herrera (ETSU) d. Runhao Hua (U-M), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 -- Kevin Wong (U-M) d. Sebastian Yllera (ETSU), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 -- Davis Crocker (U-M) d. Ismael Merino (ETSU), 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-5

Doubles
No. 1 -- Alex Knight/Runhao Hua (U-M) d. No. 63 David Biosca/Rogerio Ribeiro (ETSU), 7-5
No. 2 -- Diego Nunez/Robert Herrera (ETSU) d. Jathan Malik/Kevin Wong (U-M), 7-5
No. 3 -- Myles Schalet/Tyler Gardiner (U-M) d. Ismael Merino/Sebastian Yllera (ETSU) 7-5