The Irish, coming off a tough loss to Duke last week, were not able to pull out a victory over Michigan Saturday, falling by a score of 4-3 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"Our match with Duke was a disappointment from a competitive point of view," Irish coach Bobby Bayliss said. "We simply did not win enough big points. We held match points at No. 2 doubles to clinch the point, but didn't reach out and take it. We had match points at No. 5, won the first set at No. 6, and served twice for the first set at No. 4, but came away with nothing to show for the effort."
The Irish always have tough matches against Michigan, as they split the two times they played the Wolverines in 2009 and fell again this year.
Michigan swept all three doubles positions from the Irish to start off the match. Jason Jung and Evan King defeated junior Tyler Davis and sophomore Casey Watt at No. 1 doubles by a score of 8-3.
"They have two outstanding players at No. 1 and No. 2 in Jason Jung and Evan King," Bayliss said.
Junior Stephen Havens and sophomore Niall Fitzgerald fell at the No. 2 doubles position to George Navas and Mike Sroczynski by a final score of 8-4.
At No. 3 doubles juniors David Anderson and Daniel Stahl fell by the score of 8-3 for the Wolverine sweep.
"Our matches with Michigan are always emotional," Bayliss said. "David Anderson-Dan Stahl have become pretty competitive at No. 3, Havens-Fitzgerald have only one loss at No. 2, and Watt- Davis have shown some promise at No. 1."
Navas was able to defeat Fitzgerald easily at No. 4 singles by a score of 6-1, 6-0 to give the Wolverines a 2-0 advantage early.
Anderson got the Irish on the board with a win at No. 6 singles by a score of 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Anderson is 9-1 in his last 12 dual season match starts dating back to March 28.
No. 73 King was able to defeat No. 93 Havens by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
It was another tight battle at No. 1 singles between No. 18 Watt and No. 50 Jung as Watt pulled out the first set 6-3, and held off a comeback by the Wolverine to take the second set in a tiebreak.
At No. 4, Stahl had a tough battle and won his match to knot the score at 3-3, before freshman Blas Moros fell at No. 5 singles to give the Wolverines the victory.
The Irish will next travel to No. 24 Washington on Feb. 20.
