Michigan State University
Gonzaga
Women's Tennis Drops First Match on West Coast
1/18/2025 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Spartans pick up points in contest with Gonzaga
SPOKANE, Wash. – Michigan State women's tennis traveled to the Pacific Northwest to begin their spring season against Gonzaga Friday night.
The Green & White competed in dual match play at the Stevens Center, beginning with doubles matches against the Bulldogs.
Spartan duos of senior Liisa Vehviläinen and freshman Ellie Blackford, junior Issey Purser and sophomore Natalie Stasny, and junior Matilde Morais and redshirt-sophomroe Hanna Tsitavets suited up for the Spartans, prepared to rally after a long flight.
First to finish was the Morais/Tsitavets pairing. While the MSU tandem was able to put up three points against their Gonzaga foes, they were ultimately unable to secure the match, dropping it 6-3.
It was a battle for the Spartans, with the Purser/Stasny combo battling up against the Bulldogs' Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal. While again the Spartans were able to hold their competition to a close match, the pair finished with a tough loss of 6-3.
The Vehvilainen/Blackford tandem had a hard-fought 5-4 unfinished match, ending early with Gonzaga securing the doubles point.
Singles play commenced with Spartans having to battle back from dropping the doubles point.
First to finish was freshman Ellie Blackford, making quick work in her match, securing a point for the Spartans with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.
Following in suit was Tsitavets battled back from losing her first set 3-6, forcing a third set by winning her second 6-1. In her third set, Tsitavets was able to put up points, but dropped the match 6-2.
Vehviläinen was able to secure the second point for the Spartans. In her match against Emily Robertson, the Fin came back from losing her first set 1-6. Vehviläinen secured a victory going 6-3, 6-3 in both sets.
With both teams having two points, the pressure was on for the Green & White. Unfortunately, singles did not go in Michigan State's favor.
Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt bounced-back from losing her first set 4-6, going 6-4 in the second set and settling at 4-6 in the third and final set of the battle.
Morais was yet another to recover from losing her first set, 3-6. Revived in her second set, Morais collected her second set 6-4 forcing the third. In the pressuring time, Morais dropped her final set by a 6-4 score.
With Gonzaga officially securing a win in the dual, it was just Stasny to complete her match. The Spartan sophomore dominated in her first set 6-1, but closely lost her second 6-7. In the third, Stasny dropped the match.
Although the match did not go in Michigan State's favor, it was a fierce contest to kick off the spring season.
Women's tennis returns to the courts Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Stevens Center in Spokane, Washington to wrangle the Washington State Cougars at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.
Michigan State returns to East Lansing for its home opener on Jan. 24, a 5 p.m. meeting between the Spartans and Xavier, hosted at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_WTennis
FINAL
Washington State 5, Michigan State 2
Singles
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) def. ROBERTSON, Emily (GON) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. HAYES, Rose (GON) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) def. BOULONOIS, Safien (GON) 6-0, 6-1
4. HESHAM, Norhan (GON) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
5. NIELSEN, Ella (GON) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. BITTNER, Brooke (GON) def. Natalie Stasny (MSU-W) 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) def. ROBERTSON, Emily/BOULONOIS, Safien (GON) 5-4
2. HAYES, Rose/ESPINAL, Lia (GON) def. Issey Purser/Natalie Stasny (MSU-W) 6-3
3. HESHAM, Norhan/BITTNER, Brooke (GON) def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Players Mentioned
