Women's Tennis Travels to Iowa and Illinois
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 14, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team (12-8, 1-6 Big Ten) takes to the road this weekend to face both Iowa and Illinois in conference play. The Hawkeyes are up first for the Spartans on Friday, April 15th at 6 p.m., ET. The Spartans will match up against Illinois on Sunday, April 17th at 1 p.m., ET.
Last Time Out
Michigan State dropped both of its home matches last weekend to Penn State, 4-3, and Ohio State, 5-2. Freshman Marina Bohrer went 3-1 on the weekend, dropping only one doubles match to Ohio State. Bohrer registered a singles victory against Kara Cecil of Ohio State, 6-3, 7-5. She also topped Sandor, 6-0, 6-1, when the Spartans faced the Nittany Lions. Bohrer leads the team with a total of 21 wins.
Sophomore Amy Barton and Bohrer combined to drop the tandem of Bidard and Simidian in the No. 1 spot, 8-2. Also against Penn State in doubles play, sophomore Nicole Herzog and senior Whitney Wilson defeated Sandor and Perrota, 8-6, at the No. 2 position. MSU dropped the doubles point against Ohio State, but Herzog and Wilson combined for another victory, this time over Steele and Mavashirova, 8-3. Sophomore Dana Guentert went a perfect 2-0 at the No. 6 singles position. Against the Nittany Lions, she dropped Perrotta, 6-2, 4-1 (ret.). Guentert then topped Noelle Malley, 6-3, 6-2, in the match against Ohio State.
Scouting the Spartans
The Spartans started out strong this season, going 11-2 in non-conference play. Their current 12-8 record surpasses the Green and White's combined season records in 2010 (7-17) and 2009 (8-16). They began their season with a 7-1 record, before falling to No. 8 Michigan, 6-1, in their first Big Ten match of the season. They then posted an impressive 4-3 win over No. 43 William & Mary, when the Spartans traveled to Bradenton, Fla. They have recorded only one conference win, which was over Indiana, so far this season.
There's No Place Like Home
The Spartans have recorded a notable record on their home court this season, going 10-4 in East Lansing. They are 1-3 in Big Ten play at home, after falling to Purdue, 4-3, Penn State, 4-3, Ohio State, 5-2, and edging Indiana, 4-3. MSU will host on April 24th at 11 a.m., in their final home appearance of the season.
Down to the Wire
Out of Michigan State's eight losses, four have been by a score of 4-3. The closeness of these matches exemplifies how tough the Spartans have been playing against their opponents. MSU has lost three conference matches by one point (Purdue, Minnesota and Penn State) and has won one over Indiana.
Doubles: A Point of Interest
The Spartans have won the doubles point in an impressive 17 out of their 20 matches played so far this season. Barton and Bohrer lead the squad at the No. 1 doubles spot with a record of 16-4. They posted dominating wins, including an 8-5 victory over No. 14 Brooke Bolender and Denise Muresan of Michigan, to earn them a spot in the weekly ITA rankings at No. 27. Herzog and Wilson went a perfect 2-0 last weekend against Penn State and Ohio State in doubles play.
Strong Conference
In the first half of the spring season, the Big Ten has proven to be a powerhouse conference in women's tennis. Leading the conference in the rankings is Michigan (No. 10). Following the Wolverines is Northwestern at No. 15. Ohio State is ranked at No. 64 with Purdue just ahead at No. 59.
The Hawkeyes
Iowa holds a 2-5 conference record and are 5-12 overall. The Hawkeyes have posted Big Ten wins over Indiana and Penn State. They are led in doubles by the No. 24 doubles pairing of junior Sonja Molnar and senior Jessica Young, who most recently defeated No. 7 Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton of Northwestern, 8-6. The pairing hold a doubles record of 10-5.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have recorded an 8-9 record overall and have gone 4-2 this season in Big Ten play. Illinois posted four straight conference wins over Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana and Iowa before falling to Northwestern. The Fighting Illini have two sophomores ranked in singles play with Rachael White positioned at No. 110 and Breanne Smutko at No. 125. White and freshman Allison Falkin are ranked No. 25 in doubles play and Smutko and junior Chelci Abajian are No. 65 in doubles.
Next Up
The Spartans conclude their Big Ten schedule when they host Northwestern on Sunday, April 24th at 11 a.m., for Senior Day.
Players Mentioned
