Michigan State University
Penn State
No. 75 Spartan Women’s Tennis Upsets Second-Straight Opponent in 4-2 Win Against No. 33 Penn State
3/15/2025 5:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Michigan State upsets Nittany Lions for second upset in a row.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 75 Michigan State women's tennis secured their second-straight upset of the season with a 4-2 Victory for MSU over No. 33 Penn State on Saturday afternoon at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
The Spartans improve to a 2-1 Big Ten record going into their match on Sunday against No. 10 Ohio State. MSU now holds an overall record of 10-4.
Saturday's win was the Spartans' second-straight upset, as they knocked off No. 44 ranked Nebraska, 4-2, on March 9 on the Huskers' court.
PSU slides to 11-2 overall with Saturday's loss, and the Nittany Lions suffered their first B1G loss, now 2-1 in conference competition.
Play opened with doubles matches against the Lions, where the Spartans forced all three matches to play out, ultimately falling to the Lions in the third and final doubles match.
On No. 1 doubles, freshman Ellie Blackford and senior Liisa Vehvilainen were first to finish, with their Big Ten foes, Olivia Dorner and Maiko Uchijims, defeating them 6-0.
Evening the score on No. 3 doubles was freshman Amara Brahmbhatt and junior Matilde Morais, who took their match in a swift success of 6-3.
With the pressure on at No. 2 doubles, junior Issey Purser and redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin battled back from being down two points, forcing a tie-break against Penn State's Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras.
In the tie-break, the Purser/Parkins-Godwin tandem ultimately fell 6-7 (5-7) in a consistent back and forth battle.
Being down 0-1 after the doubles point, the Green & White knew what had to be done in singles matches.
Again evening the score was Amara Brahmbhatt, making her first appearance at No. 2 singles, dominating PSU's Maiko Uchijima, 6-1, 6-3.
The Lions did not let this hold them back, quickly going up again at No. 3 singles, with Morais being defeated by Patricia Grigoras 3-6, 4-6.
Pressure was on, and Oriana Parkins-Godwin delivered in her match at No. 6 singles. The redshirt-sophomore came back from losing her first set, reverse sweeping Maria Ciubotaru 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Following in suite was Liisa Vehvilainen at No. 1 singles, defeating Olivia Dorner 6-3, 6-4.
The Green and White were 3-2, waiting on either Purser or redshirt-sophomore Hanna Tsitavets to finish their match..
Tsitavets ultimately clinched the match and the Victory for MSU, securing her match at No. 5 singles 7-5, 6-4 against Penn State's Yvonne Zuffova.
With Tsitavets securing the match in the Spartans favor, Purser's match went unfinished, 2-6, 6-4, 3-5.
MSU women's tennis returns to the courts on Sunday, March 16 against No. 10 ranked Ohio State at 12 p.m. 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
Tennis Match Results
Penn State vs Michigan State
3/15/2025 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#75 Michigan State 4, #33 Penn State 2
Singles competition
1. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) def. Olivia Dorner (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-4
4. Issey Purser (MSU-W) vs. Jelena Vico (PSU) 2-6, 6-4, 3-5, unfinished
5. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) def. Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwi (MSU-W) def. Maria Ciubotaru (PSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Olivia Dorner/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) def. Ellie Blackford/Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU-W) 6-0
2. Jordina Cegarra/Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwi (MSU-W) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Matilde Morais/Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Jelena Vico/Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 6-3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,6,1,5
Players Mentioned
