Michigan
Ball State
Michigan Sweeps Ball State in Final Non-Conference Match
2/21/2026 5:05:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: Michigan 7, Ball State 0
Records: U-M (4-4), Ball State (4-5)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 6 -- vs. Wisconsin (Varsity Tennis Center), 6 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team posted a dominant 7-0 win over Ball State on Saturday (Feb. 21) at the Varsity Tennis Center in the Wolverines' final non-conference match of the season.
Freshman Arnav Bhandari and senior Nicholas Steiglehner got things started in doubles, jumping out to a 2-0 lead over Anthony Shalakov and Zack Kimelman with an early break and closing on another break to win 6-3 at No. 3. Seniors Bjorn Swenson and Mert Oral were tied 3-3 at No. 2 before winning three straight games for a 6-3 finish to secure the doubles point. Freshmen Max Dahlin and Pierce Shaya held a 5-4 advantage at No. 1 when the match was left unfinished.
No. 114-ranked Swenson earned Michigan's first singles win at No. 2. Tied 1-1 in the opening set, Swenson went on a 5-0 run to take it 6-1 and closed the match by winning the final four games of the second set for a 6-2 victory.
No. 7-ranked Dahlin added a straight-set win at No. 1, defeating Jacks Lancaster, 6-2, 6-2, with each set ending on a 3-0 run.
At No. 6, Bhandari secured the team victory with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Broc Fletcher.
The teams played out the remaining matches, with Oral earning a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jeremy Milette at No. 4, Steiglehner defeating Drew Hayward, 7-5, 6-1, at No. 3, and Shaya closing with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory over Zack Kimelman at No. 5.
Michigan opens Big Ten play next weekend at the Varsity Tennis Center, hosting Wisconsin on Friday (March 6) at 6 p.m. and Nebraska on Sunday (March 8) at noon.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- No. 7 Max Dahlin (U-M) d. Jacks Lancaster (BSU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 -- No. 114 Bjorn Swenson (U-M) d. Andrei Caragea (BSU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 -- Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) d. Drew Hayward (BSU), 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 -- Mert Oral (U-M) d. Jeremy Milette (BSU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 -- Pierce Shaya (U-M) d. Zack Kimelman (BSU), 6-2, 7-6 (5)
No. 6 -- Arnav Bhandari (U-M) d. Broc Fletcher (BSU), 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -- Max Dahlin/Pierce Shaya (U-M) vs. Jacks Lancaster/Drew Hayward (BSU), 5-4, unfinished
No. 2 -- Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (U-M) d. Andrei Caragea/Nolan Howard (BSU), 6-3
No. 3 -- Arnav Bhandari/Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) d. Anthony Shalakov/Zack Kimelman (BSU), 6-3
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2; Singles 2-1-6-4-3-5
Players Mentioned
