
Photo by: Dylan Heinen
Spartan Women’s Tennis Drops Final Non-Conference Match in Close Contest Against No.57 Columbia
3/2/2025 8:54:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MSU falls to No.57 ranked Columbia in Sunday morning matchup.
NEW YORK, N. Y. — Michigan State women's tennis dropped their first match during the month of March in a fierce contest against No. 57 ranked Columbia on Mar. 2 at 10:30 a.m.
The Spartans traveled to New York City for a Sunday morning match-up against the 7-4 Columbia Lions, ultimately dropping the match 2-4.
The Green & White were unable to secure the doubles point, with Columbia taking No. 2 and No. 3 doubles against the junior/redshirt sophomore duo of Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets and the freshman/junior duo of Amara Brahmbhatt/Issey Purser.
MSU was ready to battle back in singles matches, with all of the Spartans putting points up on the board.
When it came down to it, two athletes in the Green & White were able to make a comeback against the Lions.
Amara Brahmbhatt put up a powerful performance, going 6-4, 7-5 in her match at No. 3 singles against Columbia's Fatima Keita. This was Brahmbhatt's first time competing at No. 3 singles for the Spartans.
Narrowing the gap followed Issey Purser, who took her match at No. 6 singles 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 against Salma Farhart.
With the score being 2-3, the Spartans were unfortunately not able to clinch the match, with Columbia securing the final point needed to prevail against the Green & White.
Michigan State now advances into Big Ten Conference play with an 8-3 record, kicking off in-conference play on Mar. 7 at 6 p.m. EST in Iowa City, Iowa against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
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
Final
Mar 02, 2025 at New York, N.Y.
(Milstein Family Tennis Center)
#57 Columbia 4, Michigan State 2
Singles competition
1. Malak El Allami (CU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) 6-1, 7-5
2. Gayathri Krishnan (CU) def. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Fatima Keita (CU) 6-4, 7-5
4. Amber Yin (CU) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
5. Sophia Wang (CU) vs. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 7-5, 2-6, 3-4, unfinished
6. Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Salma Farhat (CU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Fatima Keita/Malak El Allami (CU) vs. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 4-3, unfinished
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (CU) def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-2
3. Amber Yin/Sophia Wang (CU) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-0
Match Notes:
Michigan State 8-3
Columbia 7-4; National ranking #57
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,1,3,6,4)
The Spartans traveled to New York City for a Sunday morning match-up against the 7-4 Columbia Lions, ultimately dropping the match 2-4.
The Green & White were unable to secure the doubles point, with Columbia taking No. 2 and No. 3 doubles against the junior/redshirt sophomore duo of Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets and the freshman/junior duo of Amara Brahmbhatt/Issey Purser.
MSU was ready to battle back in singles matches, with all of the Spartans putting points up on the board.
When it came down to it, two athletes in the Green & White were able to make a comeback against the Lions.
Amara Brahmbhatt put up a powerful performance, going 6-4, 7-5 in her match at No. 3 singles against Columbia's Fatima Keita. This was Brahmbhatt's first time competing at No. 3 singles for the Spartans.
Narrowing the gap followed Issey Purser, who took her match at No. 6 singles 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 against Salma Farhart.
With the score being 2-3, the Spartans were unfortunately not able to clinch the match, with Columbia securing the final point needed to prevail against the Green & White.
Michigan State now advances into Big Ten Conference play with an 8-3 record, kicking off in-conference play on Mar. 7 at 6 p.m. EST in Iowa City, Iowa against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
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
Final
Mar 02, 2025 at New York, N.Y.
(Milstein Family Tennis Center)
#57 Columbia 4, Michigan State 2
Singles competition
1. Malak El Allami (CU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) 6-1, 7-5
2. Gayathri Krishnan (CU) def. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Fatima Keita (CU) 6-4, 7-5
4. Amber Yin (CU) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
5. Sophia Wang (CU) vs. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 7-5, 2-6, 3-4, unfinished
6. Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Salma Farhat (CU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Fatima Keita/Malak El Allami (CU) vs. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 4-3, unfinished
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (CU) def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-2
3. Amber Yin/Sophia Wang (CU) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-0
Match Notes:
Michigan State 8-3
Columbia 7-4; National ranking #57
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,1,3,6,4)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
Order of Finish:
2,1,3,6,4
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