Saturday, February 13
East Lansing, Mich.
10:00 AM
Michigan State University
2
vs
5
Wake Forest
No. 69 Spartans Edged Out By No. 45 Demon Deacons
2/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 13, 2016 
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 69 Michigan State women's tennis jumped out to an early lead against No. 45 Wake Forest on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, but could not hold off the Demon Deacons through singles play, falling 5-2.
"We want to be able to compete against teams like this," said head coach Simone Jardim. "We aren't quite there yet, but we are getting closer. Looking at it, they are ranked No. 45 in the country, and we were right there with them. To me, the next step is we need to finish against a team like this."
In doubles, the Spartans (3-2) and Demon Deacons (8-0) split the first two matches, as the deciding bout was deadlocked at 4-4. The duo of senior Emily Meyers and sophomore Lexi Baylis took a 5-4 lead on their serve before Wake Forest's Xue Zhang and Kasey Gardiner evened the score once more. The Spartan combo bounced back to regain the lead before clinching the match, 7-5.
"We have been mixing up our lineups, but we are looking to win doubles points," Jardim said. "It was good to get the doubles points, and that is a goal of ours. That puts us in position to win a match. Having to win three singles matches instead of four is huge.
Junior Erin Faulkner and sophomore Allie Baer teamed up to win their match on court one, 6-2, over Anna Ulyashchenko and Kimmy Guerin.
Freshman Emily Metcalf notched MSU's lone victory in singles, closing out against the Carolina region's No. 17-ranked Samantha Asch. After taking a 2-0 lead in the opening set, Metcalf stumbled, dropping the frame 6-3. Metcalf jumped out to an even bigger lead in set two, going up 4-0. This time the Jonesboro, Arkansas, native held on, 6-3. In the super tiebreaker, en lieu of a third set, Metcalf clinched the bout 10-7.
"This win gives her confidence," said Jardim. "In the game of tennis, it is just you out there. When they go out, execute against a good player and finish, especially against this level of opponent, for Emily it is believing she is ready and can go out there and win matches."
After being knotted at a game aside in the opening set, sophomore Davina Nguyen jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at No. 2 singles. Emma Davis, ranked No. 103 in the country and No. 11 in the Carolina region, battled back to take set one, 6-4. Nguyen once again took an early lead, this time going up 3-0. Davis battled back once more for a 7-5 victory.
Michigan State returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 14, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility against Xavier. Doubles is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 69 Michigan State women's tennis jumped out to an early lead against No. 45 Wake Forest on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, but could not hold off the Demon Deacons through singles play, falling 5-2.
"We want to be able to compete against teams like this," said head coach Simone Jardim. "We aren't quite there yet, but we are getting closer. Looking at it, they are ranked No. 45 in the country, and we were right there with them. To me, the next step is we need to finish against a team like this."
In doubles, the Spartans (3-2) and Demon Deacons (8-0) split the first two matches, as the deciding bout was deadlocked at 4-4. The duo of senior Emily Meyers and sophomore Lexi Baylis took a 5-4 lead on their serve before Wake Forest's Xue Zhang and Kasey Gardiner evened the score once more. The Spartan combo bounced back to regain the lead before clinching the match, 7-5.
"We have been mixing up our lineups, but we are looking to win doubles points," Jardim said. "It was good to get the doubles points, and that is a goal of ours. That puts us in position to win a match. Having to win three singles matches instead of four is huge.
Junior Erin Faulkner and sophomore Allie Baer teamed up to win their match on court one, 6-2, over Anna Ulyashchenko and Kimmy Guerin.
Freshman Emily Metcalf notched MSU's lone victory in singles, closing out against the Carolina region's No. 17-ranked Samantha Asch. After taking a 2-0 lead in the opening set, Metcalf stumbled, dropping the frame 6-3. Metcalf jumped out to an even bigger lead in set two, going up 4-0. This time the Jonesboro, Arkansas, native held on, 6-3. In the super tiebreaker, en lieu of a third set, Metcalf clinched the bout 10-7.
"This win gives her confidence," said Jardim. "In the game of tennis, it is just you out there. When they go out, execute against a good player and finish, especially against this level of opponent, for Emily it is believing she is ready and can go out there and win matches."
After being knotted at a game aside in the opening set, sophomore Davina Nguyen jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at No. 2 singles. Emma Davis, ranked No. 103 in the country and No. 11 in the Carolina region, battled back to take set one, 6-4. Nguyen once again took an early lead, this time going up 3-0. Davis battled back once more for a 7-5 victory.
Michigan State returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 14, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility against Xavier. Doubles is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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