Michigan State University
Depaul
Women's Tennis Downed By DePaul
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team had it's three-match winning streak snapped by DePaul, losing a close 5-2 contest. The match was closer than the score indicated, as MSU (3-2) trailed 3-2 with the final two singles matches in third sets, and the Spartans held early leads in each third set. But in each case, DePaul (5-2) rallied for a victory to give the Blue Demons the team win.
DePaul took two of three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 lead. Freshman Dora Vastag and junior Asa Liden won at No. 3 doubles for MSU, 8-3, but it wasn't enough. Sophomores Trine Lise Juliussen and Caroline Lay at No. 2 were close to victory, dropping a 9-7 decision.
In singles, Liden got MSU on the board with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 4. DePaul earned singles victories at No. 2 and 5 to take a 3-1 lead, when Lay capped off a dominating performance at No. 3 with a 6-1, 6-1 win.
Vastag lost a 4-3 lead in the third set at No. 1 en route to a 3-6, 6-2, 4-6 loss that clinched the match for DePaul. In the final match of the night, freshman Keri Thompson served for the victory in the third set at 5-4 and 6-5 before dropping a tough 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7) match at No. 6.
"I think sometimes a team needs to take a loss and I think we needed it," said MSU head coach Tim Bauer. "Sometimes that can be a good thing when you see what happens because of it. In a way its hard to lose a match like this but I think a loss could turn out to be good for us.
"A lot of people are very young and still learning their games and this could be the turning point for them. So I guess sometimes a team needs to take a loss because in the end you can turn that into wins.
"I am pleased with the effort but I think our attention to detail in practice is going to have to improve for us to win a match 4-3 like this instead of losing it."
MSU will return to action Sunday when the Spartans host Illinois-Chicago at 9 a.m.
DePaul 5, Michigan State 2
Singles1 - Szilvia Kelemen (DU) def. Dora Vastag (MSU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-42 - Marina Parashkevova (DU) def. Mandy Caldemeyer (MSU), 6-3, 6-13 - Caroline Lay (MSU) def. Kadi Hilpus (DU), 6-1, 6-14 - Asa Liden (MSU) def. Stephanie Matko (DU), 6-0, 6-15 - Natalie Matko (DU) def. Trine Lise Juliussen (MSU), 7-5, 6-16 - Karen Falduto (DU) def. Keri Thompson (MSU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7)
Doubles1 - Kelemen/Parashkevova (DU) def. Thomas/Caldemeyer (MSU), 8-12 - Hilpus/N.Matko (DU) def. Juliussen/Lay (MSU), 9-73 - Vastag/Liden (MSU) def. Stewart/Dybas (DU), 8-3
