Friday, March 31
Champaign, Ill.
5 PM
Michigan State University
at
Illinois
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
Spartans Set to Begin Road Stretch in Illinois
3/30/2023 12:26:00 PM | Women's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State women's tennis returns to conference action this weekend, kicking off a season-long four-dual road stretch with its first stop in Illinois. The Spartans will take on the No. 34 Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday, March 31 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT and close out the weekend taking on the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT.
Live scoring and streaming will be available on MSUSpartans.com
#UNMATCHED APPROACH
The Spartans head into the weekend at 8-8 (1-4 Big Ten) having snapped a season-long three-match losing streak last weekend at home. Sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen leads the Spartans with a 17-8 record overall this spring, including an 8-4 record singles. Freshman Marley Lambert is second on the squad with six singles wins, including winning records at the No. 2 and No. 4 singles positions.
In doubles, the tandem of Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen lead the team with a 9-4 record at No. 1 doubles, while the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard have won three-straight doubles matches to improve their record to 4-1 this spring.
LAST POINT
MSU concluded its three-dual homestand last weekend, splitting the weekend slate with its first Big Ten win of the season in a sweep over Minnesota on Saturday, March 25 before falling the next day to No. 17 Wisconsin, 5-0. MSU finished the homestand 1-2.
Against the Golden Gophers, MSU was able to utilize its personnel advantage to clinch the doubles point with Can and Vehvilainen picking up a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles. The Spartans would then start the singles portion up 2-0 after Minnesota forfeited a point due to a walkover and clinch the match as Can picked up a straight set win over Minnesota's Anet Koskel just after Lambert picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win over Minnesota's Zeyneb Sarioglan, pushing the Spartans to a sweep.
The following day, the Spartans fought hard but could not hold No. 17 Wisconsin at bay, falling to the Badgers, 5-0. Wisconsin would steal the doubles point from MSU following a thrilling tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles just after closing the deal at the No. 1 slot. After an injury forced the Spartans to shake their singles lineup, the Badgers responded by taking one-set leads on every court. The Badgers would take singles wins at No. 2 and No. 6 positions followed by simultaneous wins at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to clinch the match, 5-0.
LAND OF LINCOLN
#34 Illinois enters the weekend at 11-5 (3-0 Big Ten) having won four of its last five matches before welcoming MSU and No. 3 Michigan to Champaign this weekend. The Fighting Illini are coming off of a 4-1 road win over #44 Purdue to give them their third Big Ten win of the season. Illinois is led by senior Ashley Yeah, whose 6-7 singles record sees her ranked No. 121 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association women's singles rankings. In doubles, the pairing of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser lead the Fighting Illini with an 11-1 record this spring which slots them at No. 28 in the latest women's doubles rankings. Illinois leads the all-time series 37-12 and won last season's meeting in East Lansing, 4-1.
Northwestern heads into the weekend at 5-10 (1-2 Big Ten), welcoming #3 Michigan on Saturday, April 1 before hosting the Spartans on Sunday, April 2. The Wildcats lost their last match against No. 7 Ohio State and have dropped six of their last seven contests. Northwestern is led in singles by Briana Crowley, while in doubles, the pairing of Christina Hand and Justine Leong lead the way with an 8-1 record this spring, putting them at No. 42 in the latest ITA women's doubles rankings. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 44-2 and took last season's meeting in East Lansing, 4-0.
FOLLOW THE SPARTANS
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by following @MSU_WTennis.
Live scoring and streaming will be available on MSUSpartans.com
#UNMATCHED APPROACH
The Spartans head into the weekend at 8-8 (1-4 Big Ten) having snapped a season-long three-match losing streak last weekend at home. Sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen leads the Spartans with a 17-8 record overall this spring, including an 8-4 record singles. Freshman Marley Lambert is second on the squad with six singles wins, including winning records at the No. 2 and No. 4 singles positions.
In doubles, the tandem of Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen lead the team with a 9-4 record at No. 1 doubles, while the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard have won three-straight doubles matches to improve their record to 4-1 this spring.
LAST POINT
MSU concluded its three-dual homestand last weekend, splitting the weekend slate with its first Big Ten win of the season in a sweep over Minnesota on Saturday, March 25 before falling the next day to No. 17 Wisconsin, 5-0. MSU finished the homestand 1-2.
Against the Golden Gophers, MSU was able to utilize its personnel advantage to clinch the doubles point with Can and Vehvilainen picking up a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles. The Spartans would then start the singles portion up 2-0 after Minnesota forfeited a point due to a walkover and clinch the match as Can picked up a straight set win over Minnesota's Anet Koskel just after Lambert picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win over Minnesota's Zeyneb Sarioglan, pushing the Spartans to a sweep.
The following day, the Spartans fought hard but could not hold No. 17 Wisconsin at bay, falling to the Badgers, 5-0. Wisconsin would steal the doubles point from MSU following a thrilling tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles just after closing the deal at the No. 1 slot. After an injury forced the Spartans to shake their singles lineup, the Badgers responded by taking one-set leads on every court. The Badgers would take singles wins at No. 2 and No. 6 positions followed by simultaneous wins at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to clinch the match, 5-0.
LAND OF LINCOLN
#34 Illinois enters the weekend at 11-5 (3-0 Big Ten) having won four of its last five matches before welcoming MSU and No. 3 Michigan to Champaign this weekend. The Fighting Illini are coming off of a 4-1 road win over #44 Purdue to give them their third Big Ten win of the season. Illinois is led by senior Ashley Yeah, whose 6-7 singles record sees her ranked No. 121 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association women's singles rankings. In doubles, the pairing of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser lead the Fighting Illini with an 11-1 record this spring which slots them at No. 28 in the latest women's doubles rankings. Illinois leads the all-time series 37-12 and won last season's meeting in East Lansing, 4-1.
Northwestern heads into the weekend at 5-10 (1-2 Big Ten), welcoming #3 Michigan on Saturday, April 1 before hosting the Spartans on Sunday, April 2. The Wildcats lost their last match against No. 7 Ohio State and have dropped six of their last seven contests. Northwestern is led in singles by Briana Crowley, while in doubles, the pairing of Christina Hand and Justine Leong lead the way with an 8-1 record this spring, putting them at No. 42 in the latest ITA women's doubles rankings. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 44-2 and took last season's meeting in East Lansing, 4-0.
FOLLOW THE SPARTANS
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by following @MSU_WTennis.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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