Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Purdue Invite
Spartans Close Out Action at Purdue Invite
10/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team took part in the Purdue Invite this weekend, represented by senior Erin Faulkner and sophomore Davina Nguyen. The two competitors paired up for doubles play and went 2-2 on the weekend, while each registered a 1-2 mark in singles play.
"It was great for Erin and Davina to finally hit the road and compete against quality teams," said associate head coach Tyler Faulkner. "We've been practicing now for about a month, and players tend to get stir crazy during that time period. Seeing those two put some of the things we've been practicing into play was exciting. The two of them made nice progress throughout the weekend against some tough opponents, and did a nice job bouncing back after losing some tight matches."
Faulkner started out the weekend with a tough loss to No. 95 Vika Dzyuba from Lipscomb. After jumping out to a 6-2 first-set win, Dzyuba answered to win the second set, 6-3. The two battled to a third-set tie breaker in which Dzyuba outlasted Faulkner, 7-5. Faulkner then fell to Xavier's Sydney Liggins, 6-4, 6-3 before defeating Purdue's Rafaella Baquerizo in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.
Nguyen dropped her first match of the weekend with a loss to Louisville's Mariana Humberg, 6-1, 6-4. She then bounced back for a dominating win over Ball Sate's Julia Sbircea, 6-1, 6-1. Lauren Ghidotti from Xavier knocked off Nguyen in her last singles match of the weekend, 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles play, Faulkner and Nguyen were defeated, 7-5, by the Osabuohien and Nelly pairing from Northern Illinois. The two bounced back with a close win over the Comella/Tavpash couple from Bowling Green, 7-6 (5). Eastern Michigan's Martinovska/Mayerova pair downed MSU 6-4, but Faulkner and Nguyen responded again and ended the weekend with a 6-2 win over Xavier's Di Lorenzo/Liggins team.
