The #9-ranked Ohio State women’s tennis team beat #3 Michigan, 4-3, Saturday in Ojai, Cal. to capture this year’s Big Ten tournament title. The last five championship matches have been played between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, with OSU having won in 2021 and Michigan taking the last three.

This year’s bout went done to the third set of the very last singles match before the champ was determined. Michigan nailed down the doubles point with two wins. Ohio State sophomore Luciana Perry posted the first singles victory, winning in two sets. The Buckeyes then took a 2-1 lead on sophomore Teah Chavez’s straight set win.

The Wolverines recaptured the lead at 3-2 when OSU senior Shelly Bereznyak and sophomore Audrey Spencer fell in grueling three-set contests. Senior Sydni Ratliffe tied things up with a three-set victory, setting the stage for the final match to determine the title.

Buckeye freshman Nao Nishino lost her first set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (8-6), then came back to win the second set in a tie-breaker of her own, 7-6 (9-7). Nishino won the match with a 6-4 third-set victory and the Buckeyes reclaimed the Big Ten title.

Ratliffe was named as the Big Ten Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She and Perry were chosen to be part of the 2025 Big Ten All-Tournament team. Both were 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles play.

With the win, the Buckeyes get an automatic berth into this year’s NCAA Tournament. It is their 11th consecutive and 21st overall tournament appearance. The field will be announced Monday at 5:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.