Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, April 17
East Lansing, Mich.
4 PM
Michigan State University
4
vs
3
Indiana
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
No. 23 MSU Men’s Tennis Collects 4-3 Win Over No. 55 Indiana to Open Senior Weekend
4/17/2026 10:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Michigan State earns another win at home to inch them closer to the B1G title
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 23 Michigan State men's tennis team earned a thrilling 4-3 victory over No. 55 Indiana at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts on Friday, April 17, to open up the Senior Celebrations weekend in the penultimate match of the regular-season.
At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Matthew Forbes lost his first set at 5-7 before earning an incredible 6-3 comeback victory in both the second and third sets to clinch the victory for the Spartans and keep them in contention for a share of their first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1967.
Michigan State improved to a 14-8 overall record and moved to 11-1 in Big Ten Conference play, remaining tied with Ohio State atop the conference standings. MSU could clinch at least a share of its first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1967 with Sunday's result.
Indiana slides to 10-11 overall and 4-7 in B1G action.
In doubles action, Michigan State put up a hard fight against the Hoosiers. At No. 2 doubles, the duo of senior Ozan Baris and Forbes had an impressive performance, earning a 6-2 victory over their IU opponents Facundo Yunis and Jip Van Assendelft. At No. 1 doubles, the Spartan duo of junior Taym Alazmeh and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev put up a good fight against Matteo Antonescu and Michael Andre, but ultimately fell 2-6. At No. 3 doubles, the pairing of redshirt senior Aristotelis Thanos and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon battled hard against Braeden Gelletich and Sam Landau before falling 2-6.
The Green & White rattled off four singles victories to secure the crown. First on the board for the Spartans, Baris defeated Jip Van Assendelft in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3 to even the team score at 1-1. Shortly after, at No. 6 singles, Sheldon earned another straight set victory, taking down his opponent 6-3, 7-6. Battling through a three-set match, Rakhmatullayev earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory to strengthen the Spartan score.
Thanos and Alazmeh both battled through three-set matches, but ultimately fell. At No. 1 doubles, Thanos lost his first set 0-6, won his second 6-1, and lost the third 2-6. At No. 4 doubles, Alazmeh won his first set 6-3, and the second and third 4-6.
The Spartans are back in action for the last home match of the regular season on Sunday, April 19, at 12 p.m. against Purdue.
Sunday's match won't be one to miss as Michigan State will be celebrating their three seniors: David Saye, Ozan Baris and Aristotelis Thanos, while hunting down the Big Ten title.
No. 23 Michigan State vs No. 55 Indiana
East Lansing, Michigan
April 17, 2026
MSU 4 , IU 3
Doubles:
1. Matteo Antonescu/Michael Andre def. Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev 6-2
2. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris def. Facundo Yunis/Jip Van Assendelft 6-2
3. Braeden Gelletich/Sam Landau def. Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles:
1. Sam Landau (IU) def. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU-M) 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
2. Matthew Forbes (MSU-M) def. Michael Andre (IU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
3. Ozan Baris (MSU-M) def. Jip Van Assendelft (IU) 7-6, 6-3
4. Facundo Yunis (IU) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU-M) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. D. Rakhmatullayev (MSU-M) def. Braeden Gelletich (IU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
6. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU-M) def. Aidan Atwood (IU) 6-3, 7-6
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 5, 1, 4, 2
At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Matthew Forbes lost his first set at 5-7 before earning an incredible 6-3 comeback victory in both the second and third sets to clinch the victory for the Spartans and keep them in contention for a share of their first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1967.
Michigan State improved to a 14-8 overall record and moved to 11-1 in Big Ten Conference play, remaining tied with Ohio State atop the conference standings. MSU could clinch at least a share of its first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1967 with Sunday's result.
Indiana slides to 10-11 overall and 4-7 in B1G action.
In doubles action, Michigan State put up a hard fight against the Hoosiers. At No. 2 doubles, the duo of senior Ozan Baris and Forbes had an impressive performance, earning a 6-2 victory over their IU opponents Facundo Yunis and Jip Van Assendelft. At No. 1 doubles, the Spartan duo of junior Taym Alazmeh and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev put up a good fight against Matteo Antonescu and Michael Andre, but ultimately fell 2-6. At No. 3 doubles, the pairing of redshirt senior Aristotelis Thanos and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon battled hard against Braeden Gelletich and Sam Landau before falling 2-6.
The Green & White rattled off four singles victories to secure the crown. First on the board for the Spartans, Baris defeated Jip Van Assendelft in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3 to even the team score at 1-1. Shortly after, at No. 6 singles, Sheldon earned another straight set victory, taking down his opponent 6-3, 7-6. Battling through a three-set match, Rakhmatullayev earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory to strengthen the Spartan score.
Thanos and Alazmeh both battled through three-set matches, but ultimately fell. At No. 1 doubles, Thanos lost his first set 0-6, won his second 6-1, and lost the third 2-6. At No. 4 doubles, Alazmeh won his first set 6-3, and the second and third 4-6.
The Spartans are back in action for the last home match of the regular season on Sunday, April 19, at 12 p.m. against Purdue.
Sunday's match won't be one to miss as Michigan State will be celebrating their three seniors: David Saye, Ozan Baris and Aristotelis Thanos, while hunting down the Big Ten title.
No. 23 Michigan State vs No. 55 Indiana
East Lansing, Michigan
April 17, 2026
MSU 4 , IU 3
Doubles:
1. Matteo Antonescu/Michael Andre def. Taym Alazmeh/Danial Rakhmatullayev 6-2
2. Matthew Forbes/Ozan Baris def. Facundo Yunis/Jip Van Assendelft 6-2
3. Braeden Gelletich/Sam Landau def. Aristotelis Thanos/Mitchell Sheldon 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles:
1. Sam Landau (IU) def. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU-M) 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
2. Matthew Forbes (MSU-M) def. Michael Andre (IU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
3. Ozan Baris (MSU-M) def. Jip Van Assendelft (IU) 7-6, 6-3
4. Facundo Yunis (IU) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU-M) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. D. Rakhmatullayev (MSU-M) def. Braeden Gelletich (IU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
6. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU-M) def. Aidan Atwood (IU) 6-3, 7-6
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 5, 1, 4, 2
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Sam Landau / 0 [IU]
616
062
#2 Singles Match
123
Michael Andre / 0 [IU]
733
566
#3 Singles Match
12
Jip Van Assendelft / 0 [IU]
63
76
#4 Singles Match
123
Facundo Yunis / 0 [IU]
366
644
#5 Singles Match
123
Braeden Gelletich / 0 [IU]
262
636
#6 Singles Match
12
Aidan Atwood / 0 [IU]
36
67
Order of Finish:
3,6,5,1,4,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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