Spartan Women’s Tennis Splits Weekend

Saturday, February 28

Columbus, Ohio

1 PM

Michigan State University

Ohio State

Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications

3/1/2026 11:58:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Green & White suffered a tough 6-1 loss in their B1G season opener, but bounced back to beat Bucknell 5-2 in a non-conference match.

Michigan State women's tennis split its pair of matches over the weekend, dropping its Big Ten Conference opener match against the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, 6-1, yet bounced back to beat Bucknell, 5-2, in non-conference action.

The Spartans move to 7-4 after a series of difficult matches against some talented opponents.

MSU vs. Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Doubles action against OSU kicked off with MSU struggling to find its footing against their Buckeye opponents.

At No. 3 doubles, the sophomore/senior duo of Amara Brahmbhatt/Matilde Morais were first to fall 6-0 to Teah Chavez/Alessia Cau.

Redshirt junior/senior tandem of Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser at No. 1 doubles dropped their match against Hephzibah Oluwadare/Sophia Cisse Ignatiev in a 6-0 defeat, solidifying the doubles point for the Buckeyes.

While No. 2 doubles went unfinished, sophomore Ellie Blackford and redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets were up 4-1 against OSU's No. 60-ranked pairing of Audrey Spencer/Luciana Perry before the match went unfinished.

Singles began with the Spartans looking to battle back from a difficult doubles defeat.

At No. 6 singles, Parkins-Godwin fell to Flora Johnson in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Brahmbhatt followed close behind, dropping her match against ITA's No. 4-ranked Luciana Perry 6-4, 6-1.

OSU clinched the win at No. 5 singles, where Alessia Cau topped sophomore Nina Plihal 6-1, 6-4.

Although the match was clinched in Ohio State's favor, singles action played out.

Morais fell at No. 2 singles to ITA's No. 87 Sophia Cisse Ignatiev 6-2, 6-2.

At No. 4 singles, Tsitavets fell in a back-and-forth battle 6-2, 6-3 to Hephzibah Oluwadare.

Blackford closed out the match, earning the only point for the Spartans and a notable win at No. 3 singles against ITA's No. 44-ranked Nao Nishino 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (10-7).

MSU vs. Bucknell
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Spartan team then traveled to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to face Bucknell women's tennis for the first time in program history following their defeat to Ohio State, and were looking to close their weekend out with a victory.

During doubles action, the Green & White struggled yet again, splitting courts No. 1 and No. 2.

The deciding point came down to No. 3 doubles, where a new pairing of Ellie Blackford and senior Sarah Fazlagic forced a tie-break, but ultimately fell 7-6 (8-6).

MSU was once more looking to battle back to victory during singles matches, and this time they took their matches in a sweeping fashion.

At No. 2 singles, Morais secured the first point for the Green & White, defeating Riley Jennings 6-1, 6-0.

Parkins-Godwin trailed behind, managing to bring the Spartans one point ahead of the Bison, overtaking Mirra Manolov 6-3, 6-2.

Tsitavets and Blackford worked to help clinch the match in Michigan State's favor, with Tsitavets finishing in a 6-2, 6-2 win and Blackford completing a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

Senior Sarah Fazlagic put up a valiant effort in singles matches, but eventually dropped her match 7-5, 6-3.

Closing out the match was Purser, who notched the fifth of six singles points at No. 5.

Up Next

The Green & White travel to State College, Pa., on Friday, March 6 at 4 p.m. to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Fans can keep up to date with Spartan women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook @msu_wtennis

Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Ohio State
2/26/2026 at Columbus, Ohio
(Auer Tennis Complex)

#2 Ohio State 6, Michigan State 1

Singles competition
1. #4 Luciana Perry (OSU) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-1
2. #87 Sophia CisseIgnatiev (OSU) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) def. #44 Nao Nishino (OSU) 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (10-7)
4. Hephzibah Oluwadare (OSU) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-3
5. Alessia Cau (OSU) def. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 6-1, 6-4
6. Flora Johnson (OSU) def. O. Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Hephzibah Oluwadare/Sophia CisseIgnatiev (OSU) def. O. Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-0
2. #60 Audrey Spencer/Luciana Perry (OSU) vs. Ellie Blackford/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 4-1, unfinished
3. Teah Chavez/Alessia Cau (OSU) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-0

Match Notes:
Michigan State 6-4, 0-1 B1G
Ohio State 9-1, 2-0 B1G; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,1,5,2,4,3)
Official: Marcus Lee T-1:59 A-252

Michigan State at Bucknell
3/1/2026 at South Williamsport, Pa.
(Central PA Tennis Center)

Singles
1. Ellie Blackford (MSU) def. Abby Platt (BU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Matilde Morais (MSU) def. Riley Jennings (BU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) def. Tori Allen (BU), 6-2, 6-2
4. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) def. Mirra Manolov (BU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Issey Purser (MSU) def. Jaycie Mair (BU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Natalie Devraj (BU) def. Sarah Fazlagic (MSU), 7-5, 6-3
(Order of Finish: 2,4,3,1,6,5)

Doubles
1. Abby Platt/Riley Jennings (BU) def. Matilde Morais/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU), 6-4
2. Hanna Tsitavets/Issey Purser (MSU) def. Jaycie Mair/ Summer Even-Esh (BU), 6-1
3. Cameron King/Natalie Devraj (BU) def. Ellie Blackford/Sarah Fazlagic (MSU), 7-6 (8)
(Order of finish 2, 1, 3)