Michigan State University Athletics
Saturday, March 21
East Lansing, Mich.
12 PM
Michigan State University
0
vs
4
USC
Photo by: Evan Peacock
MSU Women’s Tennis Downed By No. 8 USC In Opening Weekend Match
3/21/2026 9:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartans fall to No. 8-ranked Trojans in a 4-0 defeat in the opening match of the weekend.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 65-ranked Michigan State women's tennis was defeated by No. 8 USC on Saturday afternoon at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, in a 4-0 defeat.
The Spartans slide to 8-7 overall and 1-4 in conference action. The Trojans advance to 5-0 in Big Ten Conference play, with a 12-4 overall record.
Play began with an intense series of doubles matches, with courts No. 2 and No. 3 immediately splitting, forcing No. 1 doubles to play out.
Sophomores Amara Brahmbhatt and Nina Plihal fell to USC's Jana Hossam/Emma Charney, 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Splitting the point was the Spartan redshirt-junior/senior duo Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser, who triumphed over the Trojan tandem of Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zozaya at No. 3 doubles, 6-3.
The doubles point came down to the No. 1 court, where the sophomore/senior pair of Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais battled back from falling behind 1-4, before they ultimately dropped the match to Lily Fairclough/Krisha Mahendran at 6-3.
Singles play began with the Spartans looking to battle back from a difficult doubles defeat, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in their efforts.
First to fall was Morais at No. 3 singles, who was defeated by No. 50-ranked Emma Charney, 6-3, 6-0.
Following in suit was Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles, who dropped her match to Simone Kay, 6-0, 6-2.
USC clinched the match at No. 2 singles, where Brahmbhatt fell to No. 114-ranked Eugenia Zozaya 6-3, 6-1.
While Blackford's match at No. 1 singles went unfinished, the sophomore advanced to 6-4, 2-1 versus No. 24-ranked Jana Hossam before her match went unfinished.
Redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets's match at No. 4 singles against Krisha Magendran also went unfinished, standing at 4-6, 0-1 prior to the match being clinched.
Similarly, Plihal's match stood at 6-2, 3-1 at No. 5 singles versus Dani Borruel.
Up Next
The Spartans return to the courts on Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m. to face the No. 10-ranked UCLA Bruins.
Fans can keep up to date with Spartan women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook @msu_wtennis.
Tennis Match Results
USC vs Michigan State
3/21/2026 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#8 USC 4, #65 Michigan State 0
Singles competition
1. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) vs. #24 Jana Hossam (USC) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
2. #114 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-1
3. #50 Emma Charney (USC) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-0
4. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) vs. Krisha Mahendran (USC) 4-6, 0-1, unfinished
5. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) vs. Dani Borruel (USC) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished
6. Simone Kay (USC) def. O. Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Lily Fairclough/Krisha Mahendran (USC) def. #57 Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3
2. O. Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zozaya (USC) 6-3
3. Jana Hossam/Emma Charney (USC) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 6-1
Match Notes:
USC 12-4; National ranking #8
Michigan State 8-7; National ranking #65
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,6)
The Spartans slide to 8-7 overall and 1-4 in conference action. The Trojans advance to 5-0 in Big Ten Conference play, with a 12-4 overall record.
Play began with an intense series of doubles matches, with courts No. 2 and No. 3 immediately splitting, forcing No. 1 doubles to play out.
Sophomores Amara Brahmbhatt and Nina Plihal fell to USC's Jana Hossam/Emma Charney, 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Splitting the point was the Spartan redshirt-junior/senior duo Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser, who triumphed over the Trojan tandem of Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zozaya at No. 3 doubles, 6-3.
The doubles point came down to the No. 1 court, where the sophomore/senior pair of Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais battled back from falling behind 1-4, before they ultimately dropped the match to Lily Fairclough/Krisha Mahendran at 6-3.
Singles play began with the Spartans looking to battle back from a difficult doubles defeat, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in their efforts.
First to fall was Morais at No. 3 singles, who was defeated by No. 50-ranked Emma Charney, 6-3, 6-0.
Following in suit was Parkins-Godwin at No. 6 singles, who dropped her match to Simone Kay, 6-0, 6-2.
USC clinched the match at No. 2 singles, where Brahmbhatt fell to No. 114-ranked Eugenia Zozaya 6-3, 6-1.
While Blackford's match at No. 1 singles went unfinished, the sophomore advanced to 6-4, 2-1 versus No. 24-ranked Jana Hossam before her match went unfinished.
Redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets's match at No. 4 singles against Krisha Magendran also went unfinished, standing at 4-6, 0-1 prior to the match being clinched.
Similarly, Plihal's match stood at 6-2, 3-1 at No. 5 singles versus Dani Borruel.
Up Next
The Spartans return to the courts on Sunday, March 22 at 12 p.m. to face the No. 10-ranked UCLA Bruins.
Fans can keep up to date with Spartan women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook @msu_wtennis.
Tennis Match Results
USC vs Michigan State
3/21/2026 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#8 USC 4, #65 Michigan State 0
Singles competition
1. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) vs. #24 Jana Hossam (USC) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
2. #114 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-1
3. #50 Emma Charney (USC) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-0
4. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) vs. Krisha Mahendran (USC) 4-6, 0-1, unfinished
5. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) vs. Dani Borruel (USC) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished
6. Simone Kay (USC) def. O. Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Lily Fairclough/Krisha Mahendran (USC) def. #57 Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-3
2. O. Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Dani Borruel/Eugenia Zozaya (USC) 6-3
3. Jana Hossam/Emma Charney (USC) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 6-1
Match Notes:
USC 12-4; National ranking #8
Michigan State 8-7; National ranking #65
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,6)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Jana Hossam / 0 (24/-) [USC]
410
62UF
#2 Singles Match
12
Eugenia Zozaya / 0 (114/-) [USC]
66
31
#3 Singles Match
12
Emma Charney / 0 (50/-) [USC]
66
30
#4 Singles Match
123
Krisha Mahendran / 0 [USC]
610
40UF
#5 Singles Match
123
Dani Borruel / 0 [USC]
210
63UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Simone Kay / 0 [USC]
66
02
Order of Finish:
3,2,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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