Michigan State University Athletics
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Michigan State Women’s Tennis Takes Down No. 39 Iowa Friday For First Big Ten Win
3/13/2026 10:14:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartans earn their first upset of the season over No. 39-ranked Hawkeyes in a 4-2 Friday evening.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis overtook No. 39-ranked Iowa in a 4-2 victory on Friday evening at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
This win serves as the Spartans' first Big Ten conference victory of the season, moving to 1-2 in B1G play, after falling to No. 2-ranked Ohio State and No. 38-ranked Penn State during the previous weekends. MSU moved to 8-5 overall on the season. Iowa now has an 8-6 overall and 2-1 B1G record.
Friday's victory also serves as the Spartans' first win over the Hawkeyes since 2019, which also took place in East Lansing.
Play began on Friday with a fiery trio of doubles matches, with the Spartans asserting their dominance early on.
At No. 3 doubles, sophomores Amara Brahmbhatt and Nina Plihal locked-in, defeating their Hawkeye opponents in a swift 6-3 victory.
Notably, sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais took down the No. 25-ranked Iowa duo of Mia Mack/Daianne Hayashida 6-3 to clinch the doubles point in MSU's favor.
With the doubles point going the Spartans' way, redshirt junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin and senior Issey Purser's match at No. 2 doubles went unfinished, standing at 5-6.
Singles followed soon after with the same ambition from the Green & White, looking for their first B1G victory of the season.
Brahmbhatt added the second point to MSU's total, securing her match against Tereza Dejnozkova 6-3, 6-4.
Iowa did not let the Spartans' lead get them down, with No. 87-ranked Mia Mack claiming victory versus Blackford at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3.
Parkins-Godwin battled through a difficult second set, winning over Pia Kranholdt 6-3, 7-5 to add the third point to the Spartans' total.
The remaining three matches were close combats, with each respective player battling to the finish.
Morais triumphed over Emma Thothva in a three-set contest, 6-3, 0-6, 6-1.
Just seconds later, Sally Xu of Iowa defeated Purser at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 7-5.
With the match clinched in Michigan State's favor, Plihal's match versus Nikita Vishwase stood unfinished at 6-7 (3-7), 4-4.
Up Next
MSU women's tennis returns to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center to face off against Nebraska on Sunday, March 15 at 12 p.m.
Following their match against Nebraska, the Spartans remain in East Lansing for yet another weekend of Big Ten action, facing USC on Saturday, March 21 at 12 p.m. and UCLA on Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m.
Fans can keep up to date with the MSU women's tennis team by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook at @msu_wtennis.
Tennis Match Results
Iowa vs Michigan State
3/13/2026 at East Lansing, MI
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
Michigan State 4, #39 Iowa 2
Singles competition
1. #87 Mia Mack (IOWA) def. #109 Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-3
2. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Tereza Dejnozkova (IOWA) 6-3, 6-4
3. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. Emma Tothova (IOWA) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1
4. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) vs. Nikita Vishwase (IOWA) 6-7 (3-7), 4-4, unfinished
5. O. Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Pia Kranholdt (IOWA) 6-3, 7-5
6. Sally Xu (IOWA) def. Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. #25 Mia Mack/Daianne Hayashida (IOWA) 6-3
2. O. Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) vs. Tereza Dejnozkova/Nikita Vishwase (IOWA) 5-6, unfinished
3. Amara Brahmbhatt/Nina Plihal (MSU-W) def. Emma Tothova/Pia Kranholdt (IOWA) 6-3
Match Notes:
Iowa 8-6; National ranking #39
Michigan State 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,6)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,5,3,6
Players Mentioned
