Sunday, March 9
Lincoln, Neb.
1 PM ET / 12 PM CT
Michigan State University
4
at
2
Nebraska
Photo by: Dylan Heinen
Spartan Women’s Tennis Upsets No. 44 Nebraska For Coach Bruno’s 100th Victory For MSU
3/9/2025 8:19:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Michigan State secures first Big Ten win in road win at Nebraska.
LINCOLN, Neb. – Michigan State women's tennis upset No. 44 Nebraska on the road, 4-2, on Sunday for Spartan head coach Kim Bruno's 100th Victory for MSU.
Sunday's win was Bruno's 100th win during her time at MSU. Bruno becomes the second Spartan women's tennis coach to reach 100 wins, joining Heather Mactaggart (1986-99).
"It just means I am lucky to be here long enough and coached with great assistant coaches, and we've coached so many players that fought so hard to get that 100," Bruno said when asked about her 100th Spartan win.
Additionally, Sunday's upset victory was also the Spartans' first Big Ten Conference victory of the season, evening its conference record at 1-1 after the opening weekend of league play. MSU also advances to 9-4 returning to East Lansing for home action next weekend.
"I couldn't be more proud of these Spartan women today," Bruno said. "To come so close to teams like Columbia and Iowa, and to not give up, but instead keep fighting for what they knew they were capable of, is what makes this victory so sweet. Their unwavering belief and collective team effort truly embody what it's all about."
Coming back from their first defeat against No. 57 Iowa, the Spartans looked to slate their first conference win against the higher ranked No. 44 Nebraska.
In their matinee match, the Green & White were quick to nab the doubles point, with junior Issey Purser and redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin securing the first doubles match win towards the doubles point at 6-3.
Nebraska successfully forced No. 3 doubles to play out, with freshman Ellie Blackford and senior Liisa Vehviläinen falling in their doubles match at No. 1 doubles, 4-6.
With the pressure on, a new pairing of junior Matilde Morais and freshman Amara Brahmbhatt locked down the doubles point for MSU, triumphing 6-3 and giving the Green & White the lead going into singles matches.
In singles play, Nebraska was quick to even the score, with Vehvilainen dropping No. 1 singles 0-6, 4-6 to the Husker's Ana Zamburek.
Morais was quick to follow, adding to the Spartans total yet again in this match, securing a singles win against Reya Lee Coe in a dominating fashion of 6-2, 6-3.
The Huskers kept the competition cut-throat, yet again evening the score 2-2, with Amara Brahmbhatt dropping her match at No. 3 singles 6-7 (0-7), 2-6.
Ellie Blackford rallied through three strenuous sets to give the Green & White a leg up, prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, bringing the total score to 3-2.
Closing and clinching the match was Oriana Parkins-Godwin, who slated the fourth point necessary for the Spartan victory 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.
With the match clinched in MSU's favor, Issey Purser's match went unfinished.
The Spartans return to East Lansing for a weekend of Big Ten Conference home action, competing against Penn State on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 12 p.m. and Ohio State on Sunday, Mar. 16, also at 12 p.m.
All remaining home matches will be played out at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center due to ongoing construction on the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.
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.
Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Nebraska
Mar 09, 2025 at Lincoln, NE
(Dillon Tennis Center)
Michigan State 4, #44 Nebraska 2
Singles competition
1. Ana Zamburek (WNEB) def. Liisa Vehviläinen (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Ellie Blackford (MSU) def. Emma Rizzetto (WNEB) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
3. Maria Taranova (WNEB) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-2
4. Matilde Morais (MSU) def. Reya Lee Coe (WNEB) 6-2, 6-3
5. Tiziana Rossini (WNEB) vs. Issey Purser (MSU) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) def. Lucy Loy (WNEB) 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Ana Zamburek/Lucy Loy (WNEB) def. Liisa Vehviläinen/Ellie Blackford (MSU) 6-4
2. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) def. Emma Rizzetto/Tiziana Rossini (WNEB) 6-3
3. Matilde Morais/Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) def. Maria Taranova/Reya Lee Coe (WNEB) 6-3
Match Notes:
Michigan State 9-4
Nebraska 10-3; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,6)
Sunday's win was Bruno's 100th win during her time at MSU. Bruno becomes the second Spartan women's tennis coach to reach 100 wins, joining Heather Mactaggart (1986-99).
"It just means I am lucky to be here long enough and coached with great assistant coaches, and we've coached so many players that fought so hard to get that 100," Bruno said when asked about her 100th Spartan win.
Additionally, Sunday's upset victory was also the Spartans' first Big Ten Conference victory of the season, evening its conference record at 1-1 after the opening weekend of league play. MSU also advances to 9-4 returning to East Lansing for home action next weekend.
"I couldn't be more proud of these Spartan women today," Bruno said. "To come so close to teams like Columbia and Iowa, and to not give up, but instead keep fighting for what they knew they were capable of, is what makes this victory so sweet. Their unwavering belief and collective team effort truly embody what it's all about."
Coming back from their first defeat against No. 57 Iowa, the Spartans looked to slate their first conference win against the higher ranked No. 44 Nebraska.
In their matinee match, the Green & White were quick to nab the doubles point, with junior Issey Purser and redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin securing the first doubles match win towards the doubles point at 6-3.
Nebraska successfully forced No. 3 doubles to play out, with freshman Ellie Blackford and senior Liisa Vehviläinen falling in their doubles match at No. 1 doubles, 4-6.
With the pressure on, a new pairing of junior Matilde Morais and freshman Amara Brahmbhatt locked down the doubles point for MSU, triumphing 6-3 and giving the Green & White the lead going into singles matches.
In singles play, Nebraska was quick to even the score, with Vehvilainen dropping No. 1 singles 0-6, 4-6 to the Husker's Ana Zamburek.
Morais was quick to follow, adding to the Spartans total yet again in this match, securing a singles win against Reya Lee Coe in a dominating fashion of 6-2, 6-3.
The Huskers kept the competition cut-throat, yet again evening the score 2-2, with Amara Brahmbhatt dropping her match at No. 3 singles 6-7 (0-7), 2-6.
Ellie Blackford rallied through three strenuous sets to give the Green & White a leg up, prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, bringing the total score to 3-2.
Closing and clinching the match was Oriana Parkins-Godwin, who slated the fourth point necessary for the Spartan victory 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.
With the match clinched in MSU's favor, Issey Purser's match went unfinished.
The Spartans return to East Lansing for a weekend of Big Ten Conference home action, competing against Penn State on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 12 p.m. and Ohio State on Sunday, Mar. 16, also at 12 p.m.
All remaining home matches will be played out at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center due to ongoing construction on the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.
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.
Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Nebraska
Mar 09, 2025 at Lincoln, NE
(Dillon Tennis Center)
Michigan State 4, #44 Nebraska 2
Singles competition
1. Ana Zamburek (WNEB) def. Liisa Vehviläinen (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Ellie Blackford (MSU) def. Emma Rizzetto (WNEB) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
3. Maria Taranova (WNEB) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-2
4. Matilde Morais (MSU) def. Reya Lee Coe (WNEB) 6-2, 6-3
5. Tiziana Rossini (WNEB) vs. Issey Purser (MSU) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) def. Lucy Loy (WNEB) 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Ana Zamburek/Lucy Loy (WNEB) def. Liisa Vehviläinen/Ellie Blackford (MSU) 6-4
2. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) def. Emma Rizzetto/Tiziana Rossini (WNEB) 6-3
3. Matilde Morais/Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) def. Maria Taranova/Reya Lee Coe (WNEB) 6-3
Match Notes:
Michigan State 9-4
Nebraska 10-3; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,6)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
04
Ana Zamburek / 0 [NU]
66
#2 Singles Match
123
647
Emma Rizzetto / 0 [NU]
365
#3 Singles Match
12
62
Maria Taranova / 0 [NU]
76
#4 Singles Match
12
66
Reya Lee Coe / 0 [NU]
23
#5 Singles Match
1234
7420
Tiziana Rossini / 0 [NU]
663UF
#6 Singles Match
123
666
Lucy Loy / 0 [NU]
274
Order of Finish:
1,4,3,2,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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