Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
La Salle Bank Spartan Invitational
MSU Completes Day One of Spartan Invitational
9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 16, 2006
Complete Results Day 1
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EAST LANSING, Mich.-The Michigan State women's tennis team had a successful first day of competition at its fall home opener, the La Salle Bank Spartan Invitational, on Saturday. The event marked the coaching debuts of MSU head coach Erica Perkins and assistant Stefan Naughton.
The Spartans began the day against winning two of three doubles matches against Eastern Michigan. Pascale Schnitzer and Ana Milosavljevic paired up, and Stephanie Kebler and Marianne Eelens played together, both teams defeated teams from EMU, 9-7. Junior Christine Bader and senior Sarah Andrews fell to EMU , 8-3.
Michigan State faced Illinois State in its first round of singles, defeating the Red Birds in five of six matches. Bader, Kebler, Schnitzer and Aglaya Kokurina each defeated their Illinois State opponent in two sets, while Milosavljevic battled to an eventual victory in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-2). Andrews suffered the only loss for Michigan State, falling to Veronique Parke-Bedard (6-7, 7-6, 10-7) in a tough three-set match.
The Spartans faced off against St. Louis University in the second round of singles, coming away with six of seven matches. Andrews battled back from her earlier losses to defeat St. Louis's Ana Renda in two close, 6-4,6-4 sets. Bader faced a tough opponent in St. Louis's Amanda Hellberg, falling (6-1, 6-4). The rest of the Spartan team won their matches against the Billikens.
"Overall I was pleased with today's performance," said Perkins. "We got off to a pretty slow start in doubles against a good doubles team, but we fought back hard in two of the matches. We really came out firing in singles against a well-coached Illinois State team. All in all, it was a great first day."
Michigan State will continue action at the Spartan Invitational tomorrow, going against Ball State at 8 a.m. and Detroit Mercy at 9:30 a.m. in doubles, followed by Indiana State at 2 p.m. in singles.
Players Mentioned
