Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Tennis Opens Lengthy Road Stretch
2/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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#75 Michigan State (4-2) vs. Miami (Ohio) (4-2)
Saturday, Feb. 16 * 1 p.m. * Oxford, Ohio
#75 Michigan State vs. Ball State (1-1)
Sunday, Feb. 17 * 1 p.m. * Muncie, Ind.
This Week: The MSU women's tennis team begins a lengthy stretch away from home when the Spartans visit Miami (Ohio) Saturday at 1 p.m. MSU, which will not play at home for over a month, will then compete at Ball State Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Opponents: Miami (Ohio) is 4-2 and is riding a four-match winning streak. After opening with losses to Kentucky and Indiana, the Redhawks responded by beating Indiana State, Murray State, Louisville and Butler.
Ball State will enter Sunday's match having played just twice all season. The Cardinals defeated Butler and lost to Indiana by identical 6-1 scores.
Last Year: MSU lost to Miami and Ball State on consecutive days last year in East Lansing, bowing 5-2 to Miami and 6-1 to Ball State. Trine Lise Juliussen earned one of MSU's points against Miami, defeating Ilse Meyer in straight sets at No. 4. Natasha Skogerboe collected the other point for the Spartans, downing Ivona Gvujic in two sets. Juliussen and Caroline Lay were also victorious at No. 2 doubles.
Against Ball State, Juliussen earned MSU's lone point, defeating Darcy Poulos in three sets at No. 4 singles.
Last Week: MSU was edged by current No. 69 DePaul Friday, 5-2. The final two singles matches went to third sets, and in each case an MSU player lost a lead in the decisive set, costing MSU a chance at a 4-3 victory. The Spartans did earn straight set victories from Caroline Lay and ?sa Lid?n at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively. Lid?n and Dora Vastag won at No. 3 doubles as well.
The Spartans rebounded with a 7-0 shutout of Illinois-Chicago on Sunday. Sweeping singles victories for MSU were Vastag (No. 1) Mandy Caldemeyer (No. 2), Lay (No. 3), Lid?n (No. 4), Trine Lise Juliussen (No. 5) and Keri Thompson (No. 6). MSU also claimed victory at No. 2 and 3 doubles.
Rank You Very Much: MSU's early success has not gone unrewarded, as the Spartans appeared in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings released Wednesday (Feb. 13). The Spartans are currently tied for 75th to earn their first national ranking during the coaching tenure of third-year head coach Tim Bauer.
Streakin': ?sa Lid?n has been the hottest Spartan, having not dropped a set while winning her last five straight matches. As a result, Lid?n has moved from her No. 6 singles position at the start of the season up to the No. 4 singles slot. Of the 10 sets Lid?n has won during her current streak, six of them were won by scores of 6-0 or 6-1.
Double Digits: Two MSU players have already reached double digit singles victories for the year. Caroline Lay has a team-best 12 wins against just six losses, while Dora Vastag has the team's best winning percentage with an 11-4 mark. In addition, Mandy Caldemeyer (nine) and ?sa Lid?n (eight) are knocking on the door. Last year, not one MSU player reached double digit victories all season. Trine Lise Juliussen led MSU win nine singles victories in 2000-01. In all, seven MSU players have winning singles records for the year.
Youth Is Served: MSU has a youthful squad this year, as every player who has competed for the Spartans this spring is a first or second-year player. Junior ?sa Lid?n is a junior college transfer in her first year at MSU, while the rest of the lineup has been filled out by two sophomores and four freshmen.
On Tap: MSU will open the Big Ten season on the road next weekend, battling No. 34 Illinois Saturday (Feb. 23) and No. 12 Northwestern Sunday (Feb. 24)
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