Spartans Set to Take On the Phoenix

Jan. 24, 2015

ATHENS, Ga. - Michigan State (1-3) is set to take on No. 55 Elon (0-3) Saturday at 5 p.m., after both teams lost their opening match of the ITA Kickoff yesterday. Elon was narrowly defeated by No. 60 Utah (1-0), 4-3, and the Spartans lost a tough match to No. 8 Georgia (1-0), 4-1.

"There are two keys to being successful," assistant coach Damian Hume said. "You have to have a game plan, and you have to execute that game plan."

This will be the fourth ranked team No. 62 MSU has played this year, out of only five dual matches.

"Playing these top teams has accelerated our development," head coach Gene Orlando said. "(Today's match against Elon) will push us forward."

Tournament Recap

Utah and Elon came down to the No. 6 singles, where the Utes' Neal Portes defeated Santiago Sierra in three sets. The Phoenix won the doubles point to open the match, but ultimately fell to the Utes. In similar style, Michigan State won the doubles point against Georgia, taking two of the three doubles matches. At the No. 1 singles position, Senior Gijs Linders battled the Bulldogs' No. 15 Nathan Pasha through three sets, but ultimately fell to the all-American, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2. Georgia won the first four singles matches to take the victory, 4-1.

What to Expect from Elon

The Phoenix will be the first team this year the Spartans will play close to their own rank. Elon has played their first three matches against ranked teams, all in the top 60. The Phoenix previously traveled to No. 27 South Carolina, and No. 17 Tennessee.

The match against Utah came down to the wire, and the Phoenix have not shown any quit in any of their matches.

Elon has no players ranked in singles or doubles, but Stefan Fortmann, from his no. 1 singles spot, owns a victory over South Carolina's No. 71 Thiago Pinheiro.

Double Trouble

Michigan State won its first doubles point of the season yesterday, stunning the top ten Bulldogs right off the bat. The Spartans took two of the three doubles matches, knocking off the No. 16 and No. 34 ranked doubles in the process.

The Spartans are 4-1 on the season against ranked doubles opponents.

Live stats for the match can be found here: http://www.georgiadogs.com/livestats/m-tennis/xlive.htm