No. 3 Michigan tennis to begin NCAA Tournament with home opener

Despite losing its top player and other key contributors, Michigan’s women’s tennis team has once again earned the right to host NCAA Tournament matches.

The third-ranked Wolverines (23-4) will face Youngstown State (14-7) on Friday at 1 p.m. ET at the Varsity Tennis Center, with free admission for fans. A win would pit them against either Arizona State or Ole Miss on Saturday, also at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing to the tournament’s third round next weekend.

“If you told me at the beginning of the year…” head coach Ronni Bernstein began, hinting at how pleasantly surprised she is with the team’s success. “We needed some kids to step up. We’re pretty young, and to be where we are right now … I’m proud of where we are.”

Michigan went undefeated in Big Ten regular-season play for the third straight year. Though they fell just short in the Big Ten Tournament final against Ohio State, the team remains among the nation’s elite.

Senior Julia Fliegner, from Birmingham, has led the team from the No. 1 singles spot all season. She’s ranked fifth nationally and made it to the NCAA singles semifinals last fall.

Sophomore Piper Charney, who played at No. 6 last year, has flourished in the No. 2 position. “She’s a perfect kid for college tennis,” Bernstein said. “Super competitive, feisty, great attitude.”

Junior Lily Jones from Grosse Pointe moved into the No. 3 role and has delivered strong results. “As a coach, you want kids to improve—and that’s what our girls have done,” Bernstein added.

Their progress has helped replace the impact of Kari Miller, a former All-American now playing professionally.