Women's Tennis Plays Host to Penn State on Sunday
4/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 12, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
COMING UP
The No. 59 Michigan State women's tennis team plays the last of a four-match homestand as it entertains Penn State at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility on Sunday, April 13 at 11 a.m. The Spartans hold the edge in all-time series, going 8-7 against the Nittany Lions since 1992.
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State fell to No. 26 Michigan, 6-1, on Wednesday night at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The Wolverines controlled the match from the start, sweeping the doubles matches, then claimed five of six in singles. Stephanie Kebler picked up the only win for the Spartans at No. 2 singles, coming back from a first-set loss to defeat Michigan's Whitney Taney, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-1). The Spartans are now 12-9 on the season, including 3-4 in Big Ten play.
Michigan kept the pressure on entering singles play, as it took five of six matches. MSU's No. 1 Christine Bader fell to No. 46 Chisako Sugiyama, 6-1, 6-1, while at No. 4, Lindsey Lonergan lost to No. 105 Tania Mahtani, 6-1, 6-3. At No. 5, Ana Milosavljevic was dropped by Michigan's Rika Tatsuno, 6-2, 6-3, and MSU's No. 6 Whitney Wilson was defeated by Lindsey Howard, 6-3, 6-1.
In the last match of the night, Manon Noe fought hard at No. 3, but Michigan's Denise Muresan finished her comeback bid, edging the Spartan freshman in the super tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9).
HERE THEY COME
Michigan State is now ranked No. 59 in the nation, moving up 12 spots from last week, after back-to-back wins over No. 57 Minnesota and No. 46 Iowa. It marks the first time the team has been ranked since midseason of last year, and it's the Spartans highest ranking in more than 10 seasons.
A LOOK AT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State has had an up-and-down season, as it started out 1-6. PSU then went on a four-match win streak in midseason, and are now currently on a four-match skid. Sophomore Lauren McCarthy has been impressive for the Nittany Lions of late, as she rides a five-match win streak, while going 9-6 in singles dual-match play. Senior Jenny Shuler is 7-1 at No. 3 singles, but 1-4 when playing at No. 2. In doubles play, McCarthy and Lauren Holzberg have the most wins on the team, going 4-3 overall, and 4-2 at No. 2
RARE COMPANY
Senior Christine Bader is currently ranked No. 113 in the nation, following a huge win over the 30th-ranked player in the nation, Washington's Venise Chan, on March 26. With her recent accomplishment, Bader becomes the first MSU women's tennis player to be ranked since 2005, and just the third in Spartan history.
SITTING AT THE TOP
Three Spartans are currently tied for the most wins on the team in singles this season. Lindsey Lonergan has posted a mark of 19-11, going 11-7 at No. 4 singles, while Ana Milosavljevic sits with record of 19-9, including 9-6 at No. 5 singles. Stephanie Kebler has claimed a record of 19-13, including a 9-4 mark at No. 3
SINGLES SUCCESS
The Spartans have a winning record at all six singles positions in dual-match play so far. By position, Lindsey Lonergan (No. 4) and Christine Bader (No. 1) lead the team with 11 victories each.
DETERMING DOUBLES
Michigan State is 12-1 when winning the doubles point, compared to 0-8 when losing the doubles flights.
UP NEXT
Michigan State goes on the road for its last two matches of the regular season, as it travels to No. 1 Northwestern on Saturday, April 19. The Spartans then hit the road for Madison, as they visit the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday, April 20. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
