Saturday, March 6
East Lansing, Mich.
11 AM
Michigan State University
3
vs
4
Northwestern
Spartans Drop Hard-Fought Match to No. 7 Northwestern, 4-3
3/6/2021 2:33:00 PM | Women's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State women's tennis team battled seventh-ranked Northwestern on Saturday afternoon at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, but ultimately fell short against the Wildcats, 4-3.
"We had opportunities to win," said Spartan women's tennis head coach Kim Bruno. "It's frustrating when you look at the little points here and there that might be a difference maker in our season, but that's also where we're going to have to grow and figure that out. We still have a lot of our season in front of us. I've seen improvements in a lot of different areas. Now we just have to get it done and want it more at those times."
At doubles, the Spartans fell on the No. 2 court, but Lauren Lemonds and Nicole Stephens, paired together for the first time this season, took down Julie Byrne and Hannah McColgan at No. 1, 6-3. Byrne and McColgan entered the year ranked No. 47 in the nation in the ITA preseason rankings. The Wildcats claimed the doubles point, however, as Clarissa Hand and Maria Shusharina held off Tia Makherjee and Jennifer Timontin, 7-5.
Northwestern (10-1) extended its lead to 3-0 with straight-set wins at No. 6 and No. 3 singles.
The Spartans got on the board at No. 1 singles as Mary Lewis took care of Shusharina, 6-2, 6-2, for her first win of the season.
"I know what Mary is capable of, there's no question what she's capable of," said Bruno of Lewis, who earned All-Big Ten honors last season. "She hasn't been able to prove that yet this year, so hopefully she can take some confidence from that match, and now it's to roll. We definitely need her."
The Wildcats clinched the match with a win at No. 4 singles.
At No. 2 singles, Lemonds beat Byrne in the first set, 7-5, and was trailing 3-2 in the second set when an injury forced Byrne to medically retire from the match, giving Lemonds the victory and MSU its second point.
The Spartans (3-5, 3-4 Big Ten) made the final margin 4-3 as Ayshe Can defeated Caroline Pozo on the fifth court, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
Michigan State returns to action tomorrow (Sunday, March 7) to face Illinois at 11 a.m. in the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. Live stats and video will be available on msuspartans.com.
"We had opportunities to win," said Spartan women's tennis head coach Kim Bruno. "It's frustrating when you look at the little points here and there that might be a difference maker in our season, but that's also where we're going to have to grow and figure that out. We still have a lot of our season in front of us. I've seen improvements in a lot of different areas. Now we just have to get it done and want it more at those times."
At doubles, the Spartans fell on the No. 2 court, but Lauren Lemonds and Nicole Stephens, paired together for the first time this season, took down Julie Byrne and Hannah McColgan at No. 1, 6-3. Byrne and McColgan entered the year ranked No. 47 in the nation in the ITA preseason rankings. The Wildcats claimed the doubles point, however, as Clarissa Hand and Maria Shusharina held off Tia Makherjee and Jennifer Timontin, 7-5.
Northwestern (10-1) extended its lead to 3-0 with straight-set wins at No. 6 and No. 3 singles.
The Spartans got on the board at No. 1 singles as Mary Lewis took care of Shusharina, 6-2, 6-2, for her first win of the season.
"I know what Mary is capable of, there's no question what she's capable of," said Bruno of Lewis, who earned All-Big Ten honors last season. "She hasn't been able to prove that yet this year, so hopefully she can take some confidence from that match, and now it's to roll. We definitely need her."
The Wildcats clinched the match with a win at No. 4 singles.
At No. 2 singles, Lemonds beat Byrne in the first set, 7-5, and was trailing 3-2 in the second set when an injury forced Byrne to medically retire from the match, giving Lemonds the victory and MSU its second point.
The Spartans (3-5, 3-4 Big Ten) made the final margin 4-3 as Ayshe Can defeated Caroline Pozo on the fifth court, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
Michigan State returns to action tomorrow (Sunday, March 7) to face Illinois at 11 a.m. in the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. Live stats and video will be available on msuspartans.com.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
1
Clarissa Hand/ Maria Shusharina [NUW]
7
5
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Maria Shusharina / 0 [NUW]
22
66
#2 Singles Match
12
Julie Byrne / 0 [NUW]
53
76
#3 Singles Match
12
Clarissa Hand / 0 [NUW]
66
22
#4 Singles Match
12
Briana Crowley / 0 [NUW]
66
34
#5 Singles Match
12
Caroline Pozo / 0 [NUW]
26
67
#6 Singles Match
12
Hannah McColgan / 0 [NUW]
66
21
Order of Finish:
6,3,1,4,2,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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