Michigan State University
Michigan
Women's Tennis Tops No. 58 Michigan, 4-3
3/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 28, 2002
East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team won in dramatic fashion over instate rival Michigan, 4-3, Thursday (March 28) at the Indoor Tennis Facility in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans improved to 10-7, and 2-3 in the Big Ten, on the season, while the Wolverines drop to 7-7, 1-4.
"It was a special win, everyone competed well," said MSU assistant coach Brett Page. "I was so proud of everyone's hard work and beating Michigan, 4-3, is a nice reward for our team."
Michigan took the lead winning the doubles point, but MSU battled back winning four of six singles matches. The final point came down to Dora Vastag's (Okemos, Mich.) thrilling victory over Kavitha Tipireni 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-3, giving MSU the win after the Spartans has lost their last three 4-3 matches.
"It was an amazing feeling and I knew everyone on my team believed in me," claimed Vastag. "We have worked hard all season for moments like this and it felt wonderful to come through for the team."
Junior ?sa Lid?n (Vanersborg, Sweden) started the momentum for the green and white, as she posted a quick 6-3, 6-3, victory over Michelle DaCosta at No. 2 singles. Freshman Keri Thompson (Clark Lake, Mich.) evened the score at two, with a come from behind victory at the fifth flight over Joanne Musgrove, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Caroline Lay (Brisbane, Australia) battled to win at No. 3 singles 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, over Christine Nolan, to once again even the score at three apiece. The Spartans built off Lay's momentum, as Vastag finished off the Wolverines in a decisive victory at the top flight.
Head coach Tim Bauer said, "all year long we have been stating that hard work pays off, and this is why we work hard at practice. I told the team after the match if we are going to win any match 4-3, no better team to defeat than Michigan."
"It was a real challenge today and I have never felt so proud in my life", said Lay.
The Spartans will be back in action Saturday, April 6, when Michigan State will host Penn State at 10 a.m.
Michigan State 4, Michigan 3Singles1 - Dora Vastag (MSU) def. Kavitha Tipirneni (UM), 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-32 - ?sa Lid?n (MSU) def. Michelle DaCosta (UM), 6-3, 6-33 - Caroline Lay (MSU) def. Christine Nolan (UM), 3-6, 6-3, 6-44 - Leanne Rutherford (UM) def. Mandy Caldemeyer (MSU), 7-5, 6-15 - Keri Thompson (MSU) def. Joanne Musgrove (UM), 1-6, 6-3, 6-46 - Kim Plaushines (UM) def. Kate Thomas (MSU), 6-3, 6-1
Doubles1 - DaCosta/Rutherford (UM) def. Thompson/Caldemeyer (MSU), 8-42 - Lay/Vastag (MSU) vs. Plaushines/Vaughn (UM), ret.3 - Nolan/Tipirneni (UM) def. Lid?n/Juliussen (MSU), 8-2
