Wednesday, April 23
Libbey Park | Ojai, Calif.
9 PM ET / 6 PM PT
Michigan State University
1
vs
4
(6) USC
No. 11 Seeded MSU Women’s Tennis Defeated by No. 6 USC in Big Ten Tournament
4/24/2025 1:50:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Spartans defeated in a 4-1 deficit in Ojai, Calif.
OJAI, Calif. – No. 11 seeded Michigan State women's tennis was downed by No. 6 seeded USC in a 4-1 loss Wednesday night, in a fierce final battle of the first day of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Spartans were slotted at No. 11 in the Big Ten after earning a 5-8 Big Ten Conference record, upsetting opponents such as Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue.
Their opponent Wednesday, USC, was a dominant force in the Big Ten, dropping just four conference matches against powerful foes Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and UCLA.
USC will move on to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament to face No. 4 seed Washington, who they defeated earlier this season.
The match kicked off with doubles matches, where Michigan State put up a valiant fight against the Trojans.
While the fight was there, USC took courts No. 1 and No. 3 to gain the doubles point, defeating the pairings of freshman Ellie Blackford/senior Liisa Vehvilainen and freshman Amara Brahmbhatt/junior Matilde Morais, 6-2 in both matches.
The Spartans did not let this get them down, prepared to battle back in singles matches.
Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt was quick to even the score to 1-1, taking her singles match at No. 3 singles against Immi Haddad 6-3, 6-2.
The Trojans were quick to bounce back, with No. 64 Emma Charney defeating Ellie Blackford at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1.
Adding to their total was No. 45 ranked Grace Piper at No. 1 singles, topping Liisa Vehvilainen, 6-2, 6-3.
Locking down the victory for the Trojans was Sloane Morra, who downed redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-4.
While this was not the outcome the Spartans wanted, the team was highly successful and passionate throughout all their matches, leaving everything on the courts.
Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament
USC vs. Michigan State
4/23/25 at Libbey Park – Ojai, Calif.
#6 USC 4, #11 Michigan State 1
Doubles
1. Fairclough/Piper (USC) d. Blackford/Vehvilainen (MSU), 6-2
2. Morra/Hossam (USC) vs. Purser/Tsitavets (MSU), 4-3 uf
3. Charney/Fry (USC) d. Morais/Brahmbhatt (MSU), 6-2
Singles
1. Grace Piper (USC) d. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU), 6-2, 6-3
2. Emma Charney (USC) d. Ellie Blackford (MSU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) d. Immi Haddad (USC), 6-3, 6-1
4. Lily Fairclough (USC) vs. Matilde Morais (MSU), 6-4, 3-4 uf
5. Jana Hossam (USC) vs. Hanna Tisitavets (MSU), 6-3, 4-2 uf
6. Sloane Morra (USC) d. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU), 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish:
Doubles (1, 3)
Singles (3, 2, 1, 6)
The Spartans were slotted at No. 11 in the Big Ten after earning a 5-8 Big Ten Conference record, upsetting opponents such as Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue.
Their opponent Wednesday, USC, was a dominant force in the Big Ten, dropping just four conference matches against powerful foes Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and UCLA.
USC will move on to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament to face No. 4 seed Washington, who they defeated earlier this season.
The match kicked off with doubles matches, where Michigan State put up a valiant fight against the Trojans.
While the fight was there, USC took courts No. 1 and No. 3 to gain the doubles point, defeating the pairings of freshman Ellie Blackford/senior Liisa Vehvilainen and freshman Amara Brahmbhatt/junior Matilde Morais, 6-2 in both matches.
The Spartans did not let this get them down, prepared to battle back in singles matches.
Freshman Amara Brahmbhatt was quick to even the score to 1-1, taking her singles match at No. 3 singles against Immi Haddad 6-3, 6-2.
The Trojans were quick to bounce back, with No. 64 Emma Charney defeating Ellie Blackford at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1.
Adding to their total was No. 45 ranked Grace Piper at No. 1 singles, topping Liisa Vehvilainen, 6-2, 6-3.
Locking down the victory for the Trojans was Sloane Morra, who downed redshirt-sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-4.
While this was not the outcome the Spartans wanted, the team was highly successful and passionate throughout all their matches, leaving everything on the courts.
Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament
USC vs. Michigan State
4/23/25 at Libbey Park – Ojai, Calif.
#6 USC 4, #11 Michigan State 1
Doubles
1. Fairclough/Piper (USC) d. Blackford/Vehvilainen (MSU), 6-2
2. Morra/Hossam (USC) vs. Purser/Tsitavets (MSU), 4-3 uf
3. Charney/Fry (USC) d. Morais/Brahmbhatt (MSU), 6-2
Singles
1. Grace Piper (USC) d. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU), 6-2, 6-3
2. Emma Charney (USC) d. Ellie Blackford (MSU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) d. Immi Haddad (USC), 6-3, 6-1
4. Lily Fairclough (USC) vs. Matilde Morais (MSU), 6-4, 3-4 uf
5. Jana Hossam (USC) vs. Hanna Tisitavets (MSU), 6-3, 4-2 uf
6. Sloane Morra (USC) d. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU), 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish:
Doubles (1, 3)
Singles (3, 2, 1, 6)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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