Vehviläinen Helps Spartan Women’s Tennis Close Final Homestand With Vivacious Victory

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis completed its final homestand in a triumphant manner, as senior Liisa Vehviläinen clinched a 4-3 Victory for MSU over new Big Ten Conference foe Oregon Sunday afternoon at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center in the lone Spartan senior's final home match.

With the match tied up at 3-3, it came down to Vehviläinen at No. 1 singles. It was pushed to three sets, but the lone Spartan senior conquered her Oregon opponent Marjorie Souza, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 and clinched her final match at home for the Spartans.

The 58^th-ranked Spartans have now earned their ninth home match win of the season, earning a 9-3 overall record at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.

Overall, MSU has gone 13-10 on the season, also obtaining a 5-7 B1G record.

Oregon slides to an 8-12 overall record and a 1-10 Big Ten mark.

The match commenced with doubles matches, where Michigan State struggled to assert themselves.

Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt and junior Matilde Morais were quickly defeated by the Ducks in a 6-0 deficit.

Bouncing back for the Spartans was junior Issey Purser/redshirt-sophomore Hanna Tsitavets, who took their doubles match in a 6-3 victory.

With the doubles matches split, it came down to No. 1 doubles, where the consistent pairing of freshman Ellie Blackford and senior Liisa Vehvilainen put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell, 6-3.

The Green & White were determined in their effort to earn yet another Big Ten win, and their efforts were prevalent throughout singles.

Evening the score for the Spartans was Brahmbhatt at No. 3 singles, where she took down Oregon's Tilde Jagare in a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

Redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin was quick to follow, giving the Green & White a leg up for the first time in the match, dominating Bridget Mihulka in a 6-3, 6-2 success.

The Ducks did not let this set them back, recovering and tying up the match at No. 4 singles against Matilde Morais, with Patsy Daughters defeating the Spartan 6-3, 6-4.

Rallying for the Spartans was Hanna Tsitavets, who has consistently re-gained the lead for MSU throughout the season.

Tsitavets defeated Juliet Santitto in two consecutive tie-break sets, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1).

In a cut-throat competition at No. 2 singles, Blackford dropped her match in a difficult three-set manner 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, tying up the team score and directing the drama to Vehviläinen for the dramatic finish and end to her final home match.

With one match of the spring season left, MSU travels to Ann Arbor to face highly-ranked in-state rival Michigan on Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m.

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
Oregon vs Michigan State
4/13/2025 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#58 Michigan State 4, Oregon 3

Singles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) def. Marjorie Souza (ORE) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
2. Karin Young (ORE) def. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Tilde Jagare (ORE) 6-2, 6-3
4. Patsy Daughters (ORE) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-4
5. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) def. Juliet Santitto (ORE) 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1)
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwi (MSU-W) def. Bridget Mihulka (ORE) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Juliet Santitto/Tilde Jagare (ORE) def. Ellie Blackford/Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) 6-3
2. Hanna Tsitavets/Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Karin Young/Bridget Mihulka (ORE) 6-3
3. Marjorie Souza/Candela Aparisi (ORE) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-0

Match Notes:
Oregon 8-12
Michigan State 13-10; National ranking #58
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,4,5,2,1)

Vehviläinen Helps Spartan Women’s Tennis Close Final Homestand With Vivacious Victory

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Ellie Blackford

Amara Brahmbhatt

Matilde Morais

Oriana Parkins-Godwin

Issey Purser

Hanna Tsitavets