Michigan State University Athletics

MSU Women’s Tennis Dealt Narrow, 4-3, Loss To Nebraska Sunday
3/15/2026 11:59:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartans topped by Cornhuskers for their third B1G loss.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis suffered its third Big Ten Conference loss of the season, in a hard-fought, tightly contested, 4-3, Sunday matinee defeat at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The Spartans move to 8-6 overall and 1-3 in B1G play, while the Huskers improve to 8-5 overall and also 1-3 in conference competition.
Doubles matches moved swiftly with the Spartan sophomore duo of Amara Brahmbhatt and Nina Plihal making quick work of their Husker opponents Maria Taranova/Natalia Trigosso in a dominating 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles.
No. 1 and No. 2 doubles were close contests, with all Nebraska opponents continuing to fight back.
Ultimately, redshirt junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin and senior Issey Purser were able to triumph, overtaking Reya Lee Coe/Yuzu Miyoshi of Nebraska 7-5.
With the doubles match clinched in the Spartans' favor, sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais' match at No. 1 doubles went unfinished, standing at 4-4 against Nebraska's Emma Rizzetto/Conley Raidt.
Singles matches began shortly after, with the Spartans preparing to battle for victory.
Nebraska evened the score at No. 3 singles, with Morais falling to Rizzetto, 6-4, 6-2.
Redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets took to the court at No. 4 singles for the Green & White and battled to give the Spartans the lead, defeating Tiziana Rossini 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
The Cornhuskers did not let this get them down, with Taranova battling back from losing her first set to Blackford at No. 1 singles, winning in a three-set contest 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.
With the score even, it came down to the final three singles matches.
Brahmbhatt fell in a strenuous three-set competition to Conley Raidt, who ultimately claimed the deciding set 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Yet again, evening the score was Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles, who triumphed 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 over Reya Lee Coe.
The match came down to No. 5 singles, where Plihal was unfortunately unable to declare a win. Catherine Gagnon overtook her Spartan opponent in a close 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 contest, ultimately claiming the match in the Cornhuskers' favor.
Up Next
MSU returns to East Lansing on Saturday, March 21 at 12 p.m. to face off against West Coast opponent USC and continues a weekend of action on Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m. to compete against UCLA.
Updates on whether the matches will be at the Outdoor Tennis Courts or at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center will be announced later in the week.
Fans can keep up to date with Spartan women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Twitter by following them @msu_wtennis.
Tennis Match Results
Nebraska vs Michigan State
3/15/2026 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
Nebraska 4, Michigan State 3
Singles competition
1. Maria Taranova (NEB) def. #109 Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Conley Raidt (NEB) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
3. Emma Rizzetto (NEB) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-2
4. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) def. Tiziana Rossini (NEB) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Catherine Gagnon (NEB) def. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Reya Lee Coe (NEB) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) vs. Emma Rizzetto/Conley Raidt (NEB) 4-4, unfinished
2. Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Reya Lee Coe/Yuzu Miyoshi (NEB) 7-5
3. Amara Brahmbhatt/Nina Plihal (MSU-W) def. Maria Taranova/Natalia Trigosso (NEB) 6-1
Match Notes:
Nebraska 8-5, 1-3 B1G
Michigan State 8-6, 1-3 B1G
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,4,1,2,6)
The Spartans move to 8-6 overall and 1-3 in B1G play, while the Huskers improve to 8-5 overall and also 1-3 in conference competition.
Doubles matches moved swiftly with the Spartan sophomore duo of Amara Brahmbhatt and Nina Plihal making quick work of their Husker opponents Maria Taranova/Natalia Trigosso in a dominating 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles.
No. 1 and No. 2 doubles were close contests, with all Nebraska opponents continuing to fight back.
Ultimately, redshirt junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin and senior Issey Purser were able to triumph, overtaking Reya Lee Coe/Yuzu Miyoshi of Nebraska 7-5.
With the doubles match clinched in the Spartans' favor, sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais' match at No. 1 doubles went unfinished, standing at 4-4 against Nebraska's Emma Rizzetto/Conley Raidt.
Singles matches began shortly after, with the Spartans preparing to battle for victory.
Nebraska evened the score at No. 3 singles, with Morais falling to Rizzetto, 6-4, 6-2.
Redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets took to the court at No. 4 singles for the Green & White and battled to give the Spartans the lead, defeating Tiziana Rossini 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.
The Cornhuskers did not let this get them down, with Taranova battling back from losing her first set to Blackford at No. 1 singles, winning in a three-set contest 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.
With the score even, it came down to the final three singles matches.
Brahmbhatt fell in a strenuous three-set competition to Conley Raidt, who ultimately claimed the deciding set 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Yet again, evening the score was Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles, who triumphed 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 over Reya Lee Coe.
The match came down to No. 5 singles, where Plihal was unfortunately unable to declare a win. Catherine Gagnon overtook her Spartan opponent in a close 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 contest, ultimately claiming the match in the Cornhuskers' favor.
Up Next
MSU returns to East Lansing on Saturday, March 21 at 12 p.m. to face off against West Coast opponent USC and continues a weekend of action on Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m. to compete against UCLA.
Updates on whether the matches will be at the Outdoor Tennis Courts or at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center will be announced later in the week.
Fans can keep up to date with Spartan women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Twitter by following them @msu_wtennis.
Tennis Match Results
Nebraska vs Michigan State
3/15/2026 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
Nebraska 4, Michigan State 3
Singles competition
1. Maria Taranova (NEB) def. #109 Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Conley Raidt (NEB) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
3. Emma Rizzetto (NEB) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-2
4. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) def. Tiziana Rossini (NEB) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Catherine Gagnon (NEB) def. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Reya Lee Coe (NEB) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) vs. Emma Rizzetto/Conley Raidt (NEB) 4-4, unfinished
2. Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Reya Lee Coe/Yuzu Miyoshi (NEB) 7-5
3. Amara Brahmbhatt/Nina Plihal (MSU-W) def. Maria Taranova/Natalia Trigosso (NEB) 6-1
Match Notes:
Nebraska 8-5, 1-3 B1G
Michigan State 8-6, 1-3 B1G
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,4,1,2,6)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
Order of Finish:
3,4,1,2,6
Players Mentioned
Liisa Vehviläinen | The Way of Sisu | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, February 20
Kim Bruno | Women's Tennis Press Conference | Feb. 17 2025
Monday, February 17
Kim Bruno | Women's Tennis Press Conference | Jan. 28 2025
Tuesday, January 28
Spartans All-Access: Marlo Schiffman
Wednesday, April 03









