Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Tennis Set to Travel to Orlando
1/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 28, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team hits the road for the first time in the 2010 season as it travels to Orlando, Fla. to first take on UCF Friday, Jan. 29, at 4 p.m. and then Florida Atlantic Sunday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m.
Last Time Out
MSU last hosted a doubleheader against Cleveland State and Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 24, defeating them both by the same margin, 6-1. With the two wins, the Spartans are now 2-1 on the 2010 season. Freshman Nicole Herzog (Manillia, Brazil), sophomore Elena Ivanova (Moscow, Russia), senior Christine Milliken (Traverse City, Mich.) and junior Whitney Wilson (Evansville, Ind.) all picked up wins in both singles and doubles action for the Green and White.
The Spartans
The Spartans return seven players from last season and welcome five freshmen to the lineup, Herzog, Amy Barton (Brisbane, Australia), Renata de Paiva (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Michelle LeBlanc (Mason, Mich.) and Michaela Silesova (Topolcany, Slovakia).
Freshmen Sensations
Herzog has already made an impressive debut playing No. 1 singles for MSU. She most recently topped Espinosa of Detroit, 6-2, 7-5, and stands at 2-1 on the 2010 season.
Silesova has also had a strong start at No. 2 singles, compiling a 2-1 overall record as well. She last dominated Detroit's Flankova, 6-1, 6-0.
Adding Depth
Ivanova, Milliken, Wilson, freshman Ashley Stockwell (Okemos, Mich.), sophomore Dana Guentert (Lilburn, Ga.) and junior Manon Noe (Liancourt, France) have split duties between the No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles positions.
Ivanova earned two wins for the Spartans at the No. 4 spot, Guentert picked up a win at No. 5 and Stockwell and Milliken both picked up wins at the No. 6 position. Wilson has contributed at the No. 3 spot picking up an impressive, 6-0, 6-0, win over Cleveland's Janek, becoming the only Spartan with that mark so far this season.
Doubles Delight
Two Spartan pairings are undefeated in doubles action thus far in the 2010 season. Herzog and junior Manon Noe (Liancourt, France) have not dropped a single match at the No. 1 spot along with the tandem of Barton and Wilson who have not lost at both the No. 2 and 3 positions.
Additions to the Spartan Staff
Shelley Godwin joins the Spartans as the new assistant coach for the 2009-10 season. The University of Alabama graduate compiled an impressive resume prior to coming to MSU, including an internship with the Southeastern Conference (SEC). She also served as a tennis instructor at the Alabama Tennis Camps during the summers over the course of her tenure and compiled 88 singles and doubles victories throughout her career.
Around the World
Of the 12 girls on the women's tennis roster, six different countries are represented; Brazil, Slovakia, Russia, Australia, France and the United States of America. Barton hails from Brisbane, Australia while classmates Renata de Paiva and Nicole Herzog join the Spartans from Belo Horizonte, Brazil and Manillia, Brazil, respectively. Junior Manon Noe comes to East Lansing from Liancourt, France, while Elena Ivanova is from Moscow, Russia and Michaela Silesova hails from Topolcany, Slovakia.
The Spartans are also represented by four different states; Texas, Indiana, Michigan and Georgia. Kate Bonnen joins MSU from Austin, Texas, Dana Guentert is from Lilburn, Ga., while Michelle LeBlanc and Ashley Stockwell hail from Mason and Okemos in Michigan, respectively.
Among the coaching staff, head coach Simone Jardim from Santa Maria, Brazil, assistant coach Shelley Godwin comes from Birmingham, Alabama, and former Spartan, and new volunteer assistant coach, Ana Milosavljevic arrives from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Spartans in the Classroom
For the fourth consecutive season, the women's tennis team was named to the 2009 ITA All-Academic Team and had four Spartans were named to the Scholar Athletes list. The four who received the honor were Marianne Eelens, Dana Guentert, Lindsey Lonergan and Christine Milliken.
Eligibility for the team award is based on a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or higher. The average team grade point average must include student-athletes who have competed in one or more varsity matches for the current academic year and whose names appear on the NCAA eligibility form.
UCF
The Knights are currently at 1-1 on the 2010 season, falling to Florida, 6-1, and defeating Florida Gulf Coast, 5-2. UCF is coached by Stephanie Nickitas, who is currently in her third season, and assistant coach Tony Giannoni, who is in his first season.
Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic is led by Marcy Hora-Cava who is currently in her second season. The Owls are at 0-2 so far this season first falling to Florida International and then Miami, both 7-0.
Up Next
The Spartans next return home to take on Syracuse Sunday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
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