Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Tennis Opens Conference Play Vs. Rival Michigan
3/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 22, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's women's tennis team takes to the court today at 6:00 p.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility to open conference play against rival University of Michigan. MSU fell to the Wolverines last year in Ann Arbor, 6-1, with then freshman Christine Bader (Okemos, Mich.) getting the Spartans only victory of the match.
This Week's Big Ten Schedule:
The Wolverines faced Alabama in their last non-conference match, falling to the Crimson Tide by a score of 4-3. U of M heads to East Lansing with three players who have been ranked nationally this year. Michigan is led by senior captains Debra Streifler and Nina Yaftali, while junior Kara Delicata has spent most of her time in the No. 1 singles spot for the Wolverines, sporting an overall record of 8-11 this year. She is currently ranked No. 97 nationally in singles play. The Michigan Wolverines are currently ranked No. 27 in the nation.
The Spartans continue Big Ten play on March 25, when they face defending Big Ten champion and fourth ranked, Northwestern. Northwestern faced Washington its last time out, dropping the Huskies, 7-0. The Wildcats have beaten Georgia Tech and Harvard this year, both of whom were ranked in the top ten in the nation at the time. Northwestern is currently in a four-way tie atop the Big Ten with Iowa, Indiana and Purdue with a 1-0 conference record.
Northwestern is led by juniors Cristelle Grier and Alexis Prousis. Grier is ranked ninth nationally in singles play, while Prousis is ranked No. 26. The two combine to form the seventh-ranked doubles pairing in the country. Freshman Georgia Rose is also ranked No. 36 in the nation after winning her last 16 singles matches. Northwestern coasted by the Spartans last year, 6-1, with Jessica Baron (Miami, Fla.) getting MSU's only victory of the match. Play will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Wisconsin will be the third team the Spartans face this week. The Badgers take on MSU at 10:00 a.m. on March 26, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. Wisconsin is 0-1 in conference play after falling to Northwestern, 6-1 last month. The Badgers faced top 50 ranked San Diego State and fell, 6-1, in their last non-conference match. Before the Badgers play MSU, they will stop in Ann Arbor on March 25 to face the Wolverines.
The Badgers have only one senior in Lexi Goldin, but boast the No. 23-ranked doubles tandem in the country in juniors Nicole Beck and Caitlin Burke. Burke is also the No. 25-ranked singles player in the nation. Wisconsin was ranked as high as No. 34 in the nation earlier this season. Last year, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State, 5-2, with senior Keri Thompson having a hand in both Spartan victories.
Last Time Around:
Michigan State played Akron last weekend, toppling the Zips, 7-0. The Spartans were impressive in doubles play, giving up only three points in all three doubles matches. MSU was equally impressive in singles play, taking all six matches in straight sets.
The Spartans also faced Boston University in Miami Fla., earlier in the month, falling to the Terriers, 4-3. The Spartans took the doubles point from Boston with victories from partners Baron and Stephanie Kebler (Okemos, Mich.) and Ana Milosavljevic (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Pascale Schnitzer (Santiago, Chile). In singles action, the Spartans fell short, with Baron and Schnitzer getting MSU's only wins.
Michigan State's has benefited from three Spartans rattling off impressive win streaks. Sophomore Christine Bader has won nine of her last 11 matches, while playing at the No. 1 singles spot. Baron and Kebler both have won 10 of their last 11 singles matches. MSU is 8-3 during that span.
Next Up:
The Spartans continue Big Ten competition on April 1 at 11:00 a.m., when MSU travels to Iowa City to face the No. 39 Hawkeyes. The following day Michigan State travels to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
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