Michigan's NCAA tourney run ends for women's tennis in Sweet 16

The No. 12 Michigan women’s tennis team needed third-set wins on two courts to keep the Wolverines' season alive but could not get the final push they needed and and fell short in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. North Carolina, ranked No.

5, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 win over Michigan (21-7) at the Tar Heels’ Chewning Tennis Center on Friday. This was the fourth straight year the Wolverines reached the Super Regional and they were coming off the program’s first Final Four appearance last season. The Tar Heels (27-3) advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played at the University of Georgia.

More: Michigan women's tennis carries chip on shoulder into Sweet 16 match Michigan trailed 1-0 after losing the doubles point and then North Carolina built a 2-0 lead on Court 2 as Oby Kajuru defeated Lily Jones, who clinched Michigan’s trip to the Sweet 16 last Sunday, with a straight-set win. Emily Sartz-Lunde gave the Wolverines their first point with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles.

Piper Charney, ranked No. 8 in singles, tied the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win on the top court. But North Carolina regained the match lead, 3-2, as Anna Frey defeated Jessica Bernales, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, on Court 5.