Spartan Women’s Tennis Falls At Iowa Friday In First Big Ten Match-up

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Michigan State women's tennis fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes in a close, 4-1 match-up on Friday.

The Spartans kicked off their conference portion of the schedule on the road in Iowa City, Iowa, facing off against No. 52 ranked Iowa. The Green & White had their work cut out for them, facing their second-straight ranked opponent as the visiting team.

In doubles matches junior Issey Purser and redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin were first to finish, losing, 6-2, against Iowa's Pokorna/Kranholdt.

Iowa secured the doubles point, but the MSU freshman/senior duo of Ellie Blackford/ Liisa Vehvilainen put up a strenuous battle against their Iowa opponents, dropping their match, 4-6.

Looking to rebound from doubles, the fight was on for singles matches.

The Hawkeyes were quick in their pursuit to four points, taking No. 5 and No. 3 singles against redshirt-sophomore Hanna Tsitavets and freshman Amara Brahmbatt.

Liisa Vehviläinen put up the lone point for the Green & White, upsetting No. 84 ranked Tereza Dejnokova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

With Iowa holding the 3-1 lead, Purser made sure that it was not easy for the Hawkeyes to clinch the match.

Purser forced three sets against Iowa's Nikita Vishwase, ultimately losing her match 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 1-6.

With the completion of Purser's match and Iowa's clinching of the match, Ellie Blackford and junior Matilde Morais's singles matches went unfinished.

The Green & White return to action on Sunday, Mar. 9 at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT in their second on-the-road Big Ten contest at No. 44 ranked Nebraska.

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.

No. 52 Iowa 4, Michigan State 1

Singles Results
Liisa Vehviläinen (MSU) def. No. 84 Tereza Dejnozkova (UI), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Dianne Hayashida (UI) vs. Ellie Blackford (MSU), 4-6, 6-4, 2-3 (unfinished)
Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU), 6-4, 7-5
Barbora Pokorna (UI) vs. Matilde Morais (MSU), 6-1, 3-6, 5-2 (unfinished)
Pia Kranholdt (UI) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU), 6-2, 6-0
Nikita Vishwase (UI) def. Issey Purser (MSU), 7-6 (8-6), 0-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 1, 6

Doubles Results
Dejnozkova / Vishwase (UI) def. Vehviläinen / Blackford (MSU), 6-4
Hayashida / Schmidt (UI) vs. Morais / Tsitavets (MSU), 4-4 (unfinished)
Pokorna / Kranholdt (UI) def. Purser / Parkins-Godwin (MSU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1

Spartan Women’s Tennis Falls At Iowa Friday In First Big Ten Match-up

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Ellie Blackford

Amara Brahmbhatt

Matilde Morais

Oriana Parkins-Godwin

Issey Purser

Hanna Tsitavets