Michigan State University Athletics
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MSU Women’s Tennis Prevails Over Minnesota in 4-2 Come Back Victory
3/29/2026 10:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartans battle back to defeat the Gophers and earn their first B1G victory on the road.
Minneapolis, Minn. – No. 75 Michigan State women's tennis slated a come-back victory over Minnesota Sunday afternoon, 4-2, as the Spartans earned their first Big Ten Conference win on the road and splitting the weekend road trip.
With Sunday's win, the Spartans advance to 9-9 overall in dual match play and 2-6 in B1G play.
Minnesota slides to 10-12 overall and 0-8 in B1G action.
Sophomore Amara Brahmbhatt completed the comeback and clinched the match at No. 2 singles, in a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win over Mia Liepert of Minnesota.
The Green & White had a strong start to their performance, with all three doubles pairs beginning with a strong performance.
Although the Spartans' start was solid, the Gophers battled back and were able to take the doubles point.
Redshirt junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin and senior Issey Purser fell to Minnesota tandem Sofia Pinto/Jeselle Ante, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles.
Sophomore Amara Brahmbhatt and redshirt-junior Hanna Tsitavets evened the playing field by winning their match at No. 3 doubles over the Gopher duo of Nora Knezevic and Mia Liepert, 6-3.
The doubles point came down to No. 1 doubles, where sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais fought hard, but were ultimately defeated by Minnesota's Yinong Ma and Arina Valitova in a 7-5 clash.
Singles matches began with the Spartans prepared to battle back from dropping the doubles point.
Parkins-Godwin was first to add a point for MSU, overtaking Yinong Ma 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.
Purser followed closely after, coming back from dropping her first set to Nora Knezevic at No. 6 singles, 0-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Minnesota evened the score yet again with Sofia Pinto defeating Hanna Tsitavets, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1.
Morais split her match, adding the third point for the Spartans in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Aiva Schmitz.
Clinching the match for MSU was Brahmbhatt at No. 2 singles, who secured her match in a three-set deciding set at 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 over Liepert.
With the match clinched in MSU's favor, Blackford's match at No. 1 singles went unfinished standing at 4-6, 6-3, 4-3.
Up Next
The Spartans remain on the road for another weekend to face Northwestern Saturday, April 4 at 12 p.m. ET and Illinois on Sunday, April 5 at 12 p.m. ET.
Fans can keep up to date with MSU women's tennis by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook @msu_wtennis
Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Minnesota Gophers
Mar 29, 2026 at Minneapolis, MN
(Baseline Tennis Center)
Michigan State 4, Minnesota Gophers
Doubles competition
1. Yinong Ma/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 7-5
2. Sofia Pinto/Jeselle Ante (MINN) def. Issey Purser/Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) 6-4
3. Amara Brahmbhatt/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) def. Nora Knezevic/Mia Liepert (MINN) 6-3
Singles competition
1. Jeselle Ante (MINN) vs. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) 6-4, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
2. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. Mia Liepert (MINN) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
3. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 7-6, 6-1
5. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) def. Yinong Ma (MINN) 6-1, 6-2
6. Issey Purser (MSU-W) def. Nora Knezevic (MINN) 0-6, 6-1, 6-3
Players Mentioned
