Tuesday, March 7
Miami, Fla.
12 PM
Michigan State University
at
FIU
Photo by: Michigan State Athletics
Spartans Set for Midweek Matchups with FIU and Middle Tennessee in Miami
3/6/2023 3:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MSU Heads South for Annual Spring Break Trip
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis hits the road for its annual spring break trip this week, opening the festivities with a 12 p.m. match against the FIU Panthers on Tuesday, March 7, at the FIU Tennis Courts. The Green & White remain in Miami on Thursday, March 9, as the Spartans challenge the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in another 12 p.m. start.
#UNMATCHED APPROACH
As a team, Michigan State enters the weekend boasting a 6-3 overall record that includes two straight victories and wins in four of its last five contests. MSU's previously scheduled contest against Eastern Michigan was postponed due to unsafe travel conditions stemming from Friday's snow storm. Individually, freshman Marley Lambert is currently tied for the longest active singles win streak on Michigan State's roster with four, winning each of those matches in three-sets. The Spartan first-year starter owns a 9-7 overall record this season with a 5-3 ledger in dual match play.
Meanwhile, sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen continues her reign of dominance at the top line, improving to 5-1 in matches played at the No. 1 singles position in addition to an 11-5 overall record coupled with a 7-2 mark in dual match play. On the doubles courts, the top-line tandem of junior Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen continue to pace the Green & White with an 11-4 overall record and 7-1 start to the dual match season. The Spartan headliners have won six straight matches, the best active win streak in either discipline at MSU so far this season.
LAST MATCH OUT
The Spartans return to action following a dominant 4-1 victory last weekend against the Illinois State Redbirds at home. The Green & White picked up a pair of victories last weekend, defeating Chicago State and Illinois State, but dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to the two-time defending Big East Champion Xavier Musketeers. MSU utilized an undefeated weekend from Lambert, winning all her matches in three sets, to help finalize the successful weekend in East Lansing.
SOAKING IT IN IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
Michigan State faces off against a pair of opponents this week in Miami, Florida, including surging programs in FIU and Middle Tennessee. FIU enters the midweek matinee boasting a 6-3 overall record, including a highly-touted nationally ranked win over the UCLA Bruins in the consolation bracket of ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Panthers booked a solid 4-1 decision over UCLA after dropping a 4-0 decision to the Miami Hurricanes the day before, eliminating the team from contention for a spot at the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships.
Middle Tennessee arrives in South Florida this week with an 8-4 overall record, including a stretch of eight straight victories from to Jan. 22 against Austin Peay to Feb. 24 against Butler. MSU has one common opponent with the Blue Raiders in Liberty, with both MSU and MTSU dropping 4-3 contests to the Flames earlier in the 2023 dual match season. Prior to facing off against Michigan State on Thursday, the Blue Raiders will challenge FIU in their Conference USA regular season opener on Wednesday, March 8.
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.
#UNMATCHED APPROACH
As a team, Michigan State enters the weekend boasting a 6-3 overall record that includes two straight victories and wins in four of its last five contests. MSU's previously scheduled contest against Eastern Michigan was postponed due to unsafe travel conditions stemming from Friday's snow storm. Individually, freshman Marley Lambert is currently tied for the longest active singles win streak on Michigan State's roster with four, winning each of those matches in three-sets. The Spartan first-year starter owns a 9-7 overall record this season with a 5-3 ledger in dual match play.
Meanwhile, sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen continues her reign of dominance at the top line, improving to 5-1 in matches played at the No. 1 singles position in addition to an 11-5 overall record coupled with a 7-2 mark in dual match play. On the doubles courts, the top-line tandem of junior Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen continue to pace the Green & White with an 11-4 overall record and 7-1 start to the dual match season. The Spartan headliners have won six straight matches, the best active win streak in either discipline at MSU so far this season.
LAST MATCH OUT
The Spartans return to action following a dominant 4-1 victory last weekend against the Illinois State Redbirds at home. The Green & White picked up a pair of victories last weekend, defeating Chicago State and Illinois State, but dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to the two-time defending Big East Champion Xavier Musketeers. MSU utilized an undefeated weekend from Lambert, winning all her matches in three sets, to help finalize the successful weekend in East Lansing.
SOAKING IT IN IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
Michigan State faces off against a pair of opponents this week in Miami, Florida, including surging programs in FIU and Middle Tennessee. FIU enters the midweek matinee boasting a 6-3 overall record, including a highly-touted nationally ranked win over the UCLA Bruins in the consolation bracket of ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Panthers booked a solid 4-1 decision over UCLA after dropping a 4-0 decision to the Miami Hurricanes the day before, eliminating the team from contention for a spot at the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships.
Middle Tennessee arrives in South Florida this week with an 8-4 overall record, including a stretch of eight straight victories from to Jan. 22 against Austin Peay to Feb. 24 against Butler. MSU has one common opponent with the Blue Raiders in Liberty, with both MSU and MTSU dropping 4-3 contests to the Flames earlier in the 2023 dual match season. Prior to facing off against Michigan State on Thursday, the Blue Raiders will challenge FIU in their Conference USA regular season opener on Wednesday, March 8.
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
Liisa Vehviläinen | The Way of Sisu | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, February 20
Kim Bruno | Women's Tennis Press Conference | Feb. 17 2025
Monday, February 17
Kim Bruno | Women's Tennis Press Conference | Jan. 28 2025
Tuesday, January 28
Spartans All-Access: Marlo Schiffman
Wednesday, April 03