Spartans Corralled by Hoosiers

Saturday, April 8

Bloomington, Ind.

11 AM

Michigan State University

Indiana

Photo by: Megan Crain

4/8/2023 9:21:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Michigan State women's tennis competed but could not hold off Indiana, falling to the Hoosiers, 4-0, at the IU Tennis Center Saturday morning. With the loss, MSU moves to 8-11 (1-7 Big Ten) while Indiana improves to 12-7 (3-4 Big Ten) this spring.

MSU would fall behind in the doubles portion as Indiana overpowered the Spartans at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. In a grueling match at No. 1 singles, Spartans Liisa Vehvilainen and Marley Lambert fell to Indiana's Lara Schneider and Saby Nihalani, 6-1, as the Hoosiers took the early advantage. Indiana would clinch the doubles point with a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles as the Spartan duo of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard fell to IU's Alexandra Staiculescu and Nicole Teodosescu. At No. 3 doubles, Spartans Dagmar Zdrubecka and Juliette Nask were involved in a 4-4 gridlock with IU's Lauren Lemonds and Rose Hu in a match that went unfinished.

In singles, the Spartans battled but found themselves down early as Indiana took command with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. MSU's Lambert could not overcome a second-set deficit falling to IU's Nihalani, 3-6, 0-6 at the No. 2 slot. Moments later, Indiana's Mila Mejic took down MSU's Purser 6-0, 7-6 (1), at the No. 3 slot to give the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead. The Hoosiers would clinch the match at No. 4 singles as MSU's Conard could not corral Indiana's Staiculescu, falling to the Hoosier 4-6, 1-6.

The Spartans competed well on the final three courts, including a lead at No. 5 singles. MSU's Nask had a 6-4, 3-1 lead against Indiana's Teodosescu in a match that went unfinished at the No. 5 slot. Meanwhile, at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, the Spartans were involved in tight battles with both matches halted after the Hoosiers clinched. MSU's Vehvilainen was leading the second set at No. 1 singles over Indiana's Schneider while Spartan Charlotte Gisclon had a second set advantage over Indiana's Hu when both matches were abandoned.

UP NEXT

MSU concludes its season-long road stretch against No. 47 Purdue on Sunday, April 9. First serve against the Boilermakers is slated for noon.

RESULTS
DOUBLES
1. Lara Schneider/Saby Nihalani (IU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen/Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-1
2. Alexandra Staiculescu/Nicole Teodosescu (IU) def. Issey Purser/Nicole Conard (MSU) 6-2
3. Lauren Lemonds/Rose Hu (IU) vs. Juliette Nask/Dagmar Zdrubecka (MSU) 4-4, unfinished

SINGLES
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) vs. Lara Schneider (IU) 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
2. Saby Nihalani (IU) def. Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Mila Mejic (IU) def. Issey Purser (MSU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Alexandra Staiculescu (IU) def. Nicole Conard (MSU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Juliette Nask (MSU) vs. Nicole Teodosescu (IU) 4-6-1-3, unfinished
6. Charlotte Gisclon (MSU) vs. Rose Hu (IU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4)