Friday, March 28
East Lansing, Mich.
5 PM
Michigan State University
4
vs
2
Northwestern
Photo by: Rey Del Rio
Women’s Tennis Shines In Senior Celebration Victory
3/28/2025 10:38:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartan women’s tennis upsets No. 44 Northwestern in 4-2 victory for third ranked upset win.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis upset No. 44 ranked Northwestern in a 4-2 on Friday evening as the Spartans celebrated senior Liisa Vehvilainen in style.
MSU honored Vehvilainen, it's lone senior, by playing her native Finland National Anthem pre-match, and then had its MSU Senior Celebration, presented by HAP, with a special ceremony between the doubles and singles matches.
Michigan State fought back various times to claim a valiant victory against the Wildcats, for the Spartans' third upset win this month.
MSU moves to an 11-7 overall record and a 3-4 Big Ten Conference record. Northwestern slides to a 10-9 overall record and a 3-4 conference record.
"Liisa's dedication and talent have been the cornerstone of the Spartan women's tennis program. Her unwavering spirit and leadership inspire us all," MSU head coach Kim Bruno said about celebrating Vehvilainen with the win. "Today's victory against Northwestern was a testament to our collective hard work and determination. While she will be missed, we look forward to the challenges and matches ahead, knowing that her legacy will continue to motivate us."
The Green & White bounced back to secure the doubles point, after dropping No. 3 doubles, 1-6.
Doubles pairings of junior Issey Purser/redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 2 doubles and freshman Ellie Blackford/ Vehvilainen at No. 1 doubles both clinched their matches in exact same tie-break scores, 7-6 (8-6).
With the doubles point on lock, the Spartans looked to clinch the match during singles play.
Northwestern put up a fight against the Spartans, with Wildcat Neena Feldman securing No. 5 singles against Purser 6-1, 6-0.
Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt kept the competitive spirit alive, securing another point for the Green & White at No. 3 singles versus Sydney Pratt, 6-2, 6-1.
The Wildcats did not let this get them down, as they evened the score yet again at No. 2 singles with Wildcat Brittany Lau taking her match against Blackford.
Vehvilainen on the night dedicated to her came back from losing her first set, and swept Northwestern's Erica Jessel 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Junior Matilde Morais finalized the match in the Spartans favor at No. 4 singles, going 6-4, 6-3 versus Mika Dagan.
With the match clinched in the Spartans' favor, redshirt-sophomore Hanna Tsitavets's match went unfinished.
Women's tennis returns to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday, March 30 at 10 a.m. against No. 48 ranked Illinois to kick off the men's and women's tennis doubleheader, as the MSU men play at 2 p.m. against No. 3 Ohio State.
The remainder of home matches will be played out at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center due to 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
Northwestern vs Michigan State
3/28/2025 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#73 Michigan State 4, #44 Northwestern 2
Singles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) def. Erica Jessel (NWU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Britany Lau (NWU) def. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Sydney Pratt (NWU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. Mika Dagan Fruchtman (NWU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Neena Feldman (NWU) def. Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-1, 6-0
6. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) vs. Kiley Rabjohns (NWU) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) def. Erica Jessel/Sydney Pratt (NWU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Neena Feldman/Mika Dagan Fruchtman (NWU) 7-6 (8-6)
3. Kiley Rabjohns/Britany Lau (NWU) def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-1
Match Notes:
Northwestern 10-9; National ranking #44
Michigan State 11-7; National ranking #73
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,3,2,1,4)
A-214
MSU honored Vehvilainen, it's lone senior, by playing her native Finland National Anthem pre-match, and then had its MSU Senior Celebration, presented by HAP, with a special ceremony between the doubles and singles matches.
Michigan State fought back various times to claim a valiant victory against the Wildcats, for the Spartans' third upset win this month.
MSU moves to an 11-7 overall record and a 3-4 Big Ten Conference record. Northwestern slides to a 10-9 overall record and a 3-4 conference record.
"Liisa's dedication and talent have been the cornerstone of the Spartan women's tennis program. Her unwavering spirit and leadership inspire us all," MSU head coach Kim Bruno said about celebrating Vehvilainen with the win. "Today's victory against Northwestern was a testament to our collective hard work and determination. While she will be missed, we look forward to the challenges and matches ahead, knowing that her legacy will continue to motivate us."
The Green & White bounced back to secure the doubles point, after dropping No. 3 doubles, 1-6.
Doubles pairings of junior Issey Purser/redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 2 doubles and freshman Ellie Blackford/ Vehvilainen at No. 1 doubles both clinched their matches in exact same tie-break scores, 7-6 (8-6).
With the doubles point on lock, the Spartans looked to clinch the match during singles play.
Northwestern put up a fight against the Spartans, with Wildcat Neena Feldman securing No. 5 singles against Purser 6-1, 6-0.
Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt kept the competitive spirit alive, securing another point for the Green & White at No. 3 singles versus Sydney Pratt, 6-2, 6-1.
The Wildcats did not let this get them down, as they evened the score yet again at No. 2 singles with Wildcat Brittany Lau taking her match against Blackford.
Vehvilainen on the night dedicated to her came back from losing her first set, and swept Northwestern's Erica Jessel 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Junior Matilde Morais finalized the match in the Spartans favor at No. 4 singles, going 6-4, 6-3 versus Mika Dagan.
With the match clinched in the Spartans' favor, redshirt-sophomore Hanna Tsitavets's match went unfinished.
Women's tennis returns to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday, March 30 at 10 a.m. against No. 48 ranked Illinois to kick off the men's and women's tennis doubleheader, as the MSU men play at 2 p.m. against No. 3 Ohio State.
The remainder of home matches will be played out at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center due to 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
Northwestern vs Michigan State
3/28/2025 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#73 Michigan State 4, #44 Northwestern 2
Singles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) def. Erica Jessel (NWU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Britany Lau (NWU) def. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Sydney Pratt (NWU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. Mika Dagan Fruchtman (NWU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Neena Feldman (NWU) def. Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-1, 6-0
6. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) vs. Kiley Rabjohns (NWU) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) def. Erica Jessel/Sydney Pratt (NWU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Neena Feldman/Mika Dagan Fruchtman (NWU) 7-6 (8-6)
3. Kiley Rabjohns/Britany Lau (NWU) def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-1
Match Notes:
Northwestern 10-9; National ranking #44
Michigan State 11-7; National ranking #73
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,3,2,1,4)
A-214
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Erica Jessel / 0 [NWU]
612
266
#2 Singles Match
12
Britany Lau / 0 [NWU]
66
43
#3 Singles Match
12
Sydney Pratt / 0 [NWU]
21
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Mika Dagan Fruchtman / 0 [NWU]
43
66
#5 Singles Match
12
Neena Feldman / 0 [NWU]
66
10
#6 Singles Match
1234
Kiley Rabjohns / 0 [NWU]
1600
641UF
Order of Finish:
5,3,2,1,4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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