Spartans Split Opening Day of 2019 Season

Sunday, January 20

Missoula, Mont.

12 p.m.

Michigan State University

Washington State University

1/20/2019 10:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Michigan State women's tennis team went 1-1 on Sunday to begin the 2019 season. The Spartans fell to Washington State, 4-1, in the first match of the day, before defeating Montana, 7-0, that afternoon. The team is now 1-1 in dual play this season.

MSU started off the day by winning the doubles point vs. Washington State, as senior Emily Metcalf and freshman Maja Pietrowicz and junior Samantha Memije and senior Davina Nguyen each had victories for the Spartans to secure the first point of the 2019 season.

At No. 1 doubles, Metcalf and Pietrowicz defeated Hikaru Sato and Tiffany Mylonas, 6-4. The doubles point was clinched on court three as Memije and Nguyen defeated Washington State's Michaela Bayerlova and Aneta Miksovska. 7-6.

Freshman Lauren Lemonds and sophomore Caroline Szabo fell to Melisa Ates and Yang Lee at No. 2 doubles, 6-0.

In singles play, Washington State won four straight to secure the match. Mylonas defeated Metcalf, 6-1, 6-4, on court three to tie the match at 1-1. At No. 4 singles, Pietrowicz fell to Savanna Ly-Nguyen, 7-5, 6-2. On court one, Lemonds fell to Bayerlova, 6-4, 7-6. The match was clinched at fifth singles, as Miksovska defeated Nguyen, 7-5, 6-2.

Michigan State was able to secure the doubles point against Montana for the second time on Sunday as Memije and Nguyen defeated Nathalie Joanlanne and Elmear Maher, 6-2, at No. 3 doubles. The point was clinched at No. 2 doubles as Lemonds and Szabo defeated Lauren Dunlap and Lidia Dukic, 7-5.

With the Spartans leading 1-0 going into singles, the team looked to gain its first singles wins of the season. Junior Samantha Memije, who went 17-3 in singles last season, secured her first – and the team's first – singles victory of the season with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Dunlap on court two.

At No. 4 singles, Pietrowicz defeated Joanlanne in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, to give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage and a chance to clinch the match.

The match was clinched at No. 1 singles as Lemonds defeated Julia Ronney, 7-6, 6-3.

Metcalf battled after dropping the first set against Bianca Bostrom on court three, securing the victory with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win. Stephens and Szabo both won their matches at No. 5 and No. 6 singles in straight sets, respectively. Stephens defeated Dukic, 6-0, 6-3 and Szabo defeated Claudia Reguant, 6-0, 6-2.

The Spartans return to the court next weekend for ITA Kickoff Weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. from Saturday, Jan. 26 to Sunday, Jan. 27. The team will open play against Princeton on Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. and will then play either North Carolina or VCU the following day.