Michigan State University
Ohio State
Spartans Drop Close 4-3 Battle To Ohio State
4/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 17, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 74 Michigan State women's tennis team (11-9, 1-7 Big Ten) played its final regular-season home match on Sunday (April 17) as Ohio State (6-16, 2-5) defeated the Spartans, 4-3, at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.
"It's tough not to win a match when it's 4-3," said head coach Tim Bauer. "When you're on the losing end it's a difficult thing. Now we have to focus on turning that around."
The Buckeyes pushed ahead early in doubles play as they took the No. 1 and 3 matches.
At No. 1 doubles, MSU's team of senior Keri Thompson (Clark Lake, Mich.) and freshman Christine Bader (Okemos, Mich.) made a notable comeback after being down 3-6 to OSU's Emily DeCamilla and Meredith Vincent. With a brilliant shot from Bader, the Spartan pair brought the match to a 6-6 tie. Despite the comeback, OSU pulled away with an 8-6 win to secure the doubles point for the Buckeyes.
The Spartans' only victory at doubles came at No. 2, where the sophomore duo of Sarah Andrews (Darwin, Australia) and Pascale Schnitzer (Santiago, Chile) fought for an 8-6 win over Sonia Ruzimousky and Kristin Messmer.
Singles play would find the Spartans under pressure as they would need to take hold of four of the six matches to win. State quickly answered as it took the No. 4, 5 and 6 matches, but struggled to find its fourth win.
MSU's Baron played at No. 4 for the fifth time this season and came through with flying colors as she walked over OSU's Vincent, 6-3, 6-2. Baron now holds a 4-1 record at the No. 4 spot.
"We know that whether we win the doubles point or not, we still need to fight hard for our singles matches no matter what." said Baron.
Junior Shelley Brady (Grand Blanc, Mich.) returned to the lineup at No. 5 singles, as she defeated the Buckeyes' Messmer, 6-1, 6-3. Andrews collected her ninth win at No. 6 with a 6-1, 6-3 thumping over OSU's Nidhi Shah.
The final decision came down to an intense three-set match at No. 1 as Thompson and DeCamilla battled it out for the match point. MSU's Thompson fought her way back in the second set after losing the first to DeCamilla, 3-6, as she breezed by DeCamilla, 6-0. In the third and final set, DeCamilla plunged ahead by as many as three points until Thompson brought the match within two at 3-5. DeCamilla, however, would outlast Thompson taking the set 6-3 to secure the victory for the Buckeyes.
"When it came to the second set, it was all about attitude," said Thompson. "I figured I had nothing to lose and that I needed to start playing my game. I had lost some three-setters earlier this year and that got in my head.
"My goal had been to finish with a winning record at home and we accomplished that. Knowing we have another match at home at the Big Ten Championships is comforting since I know this wasn't my last match at home."
After the match, the team recognized seniors Keri Thompson, Karen Gustafson and Marissa Macholz for their continued dedication to the Spartan tennis program.
Michigan State concludes its regular season next weekend as it travels to Penn State, Saturday (April 27) and Indiana Sunday (April 28).
Match Results Ohio State vs Michigan State 4/17/2005 at East Lansing, Mich.
Ohio State 4, #74 Michigan State 3Singles competition:1. Emily DeCamilla (OSU) def. #121 Keri Thompson (MSU) 6-3, 0-6, 6-32. Sonia Ruzimovsky (OSU) def. Christine Bader (MSU) 6-2, 6-23. Caitlin O'Keefe (OSU) def. Pascale Schnitzer (MSU) 6-4, 6-24. Jessica Baron (MSU) def. Meredith Vincent (OSU) 6-3, 6-25. Shelley Brady (MSU) def. Kristin Messmer (OSU) 6-1, 6-36. Sarah Andrews (MSU) def. Nidhi Shah (OSU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition:1. Emily DeCamilla/Meredith Vincent (OSU) def. Christine Bader/Keri Thompson (MSU) 8-62. Sarah Andrews/Pascale Schnitzer (MSU) def. Sonia Ruzimovsky/Kristin Messmer (OSU) 8-63. Caitlin O'Keefe/Lindsay Bryan (OSU) def. Jessica Baron/Karen Gustafson (MSU) 8-2
Match Notes:Ohio State 6-16, 2-5Michigan State 11-9, 1-7; National ranking #74
Players Mentioned
