Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Women’s Tennis Drops Regular Season Finale
4/18/2026 6:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Spartans fall, 4-1, to in-state rival Michigan in the final match of the regular season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 67 Michigan State women's tennis fell to No. 17 Michigan in their final match of the regular season, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
MSU slides to 11-12 overall and 4-9 in Big Ten Conference action.
Michigan advances to 16-6 overall and 12-1 in Big Ten Conference play, earning a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
Doubles play began with an intense series of matches, where it was a fight to the finish for both teams.
No. 3 doubles was the first court off, with the Spartan duo of sophomore Nina Plihal and senior Issey Purser falling, 6-1, to their Wolverine opponents, 86th-ranked Piper Charney and Emily Sartz-Lunde.
The Spartans battled back, with the No. 57-ranked tandem of sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais taking No. 1 doubles, where they upset No. 26-ranked Lily Jones and Jessica Bernales of Michigan, 6-4.
It was a strenuous battle for both parties involved at No. 2 doubles, with MSU sophomore Amara Brahmbhatt and senior Hanna Tsitavets keeping it a tight-match. The final court went into a tie-break, with both the Spartans and the Wolverines hungry for the clinch of the doubles point. Ultimately, the Green & White duo of Brahmbhatt/Tsitavets fell in the tie-break to UM's Laura Rahnel/Reese Miller, 7-6 (7-3), and Michigan slotted the doubles point.
Singles matches began with the Spartans looking for a comeback win against their instate rivals.
Tsitavets was overtaken by her Wolverine opponent, Sartz-Lunde, who added the second point to Michigan's total at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-0.
Solidifying the Wolverines' lead was No. 88 Reese Miller, who triumphed over Morais at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-3.
The Spartans did not let this get them down, with Brahmbhatt putting in the work at No. 1 singles. The sophomore secured MSU's sole point in a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory against No. 31 Lily Jones, getting the Green & White on the board.
It was yet another fight to the finish, with Michigan looking to clinch the win and MSU looking to add more points to their total and close the margin.
Unfortunately, the Spartans' battle for points was cut short, with Plihal falling to Jessica Bernales at No. 5 singles despite winning her first set, with Bernales coming back in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.
Blackford put up a strong performance at No. 2 singles before the match ceased, taking No. 11 Piper Charney to three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 1-4.
Redshirt-junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin also had a strong final performance, coming back from being down 2-5, to take the first set 7-6 (7-3) and then dropping her second set, 3-6, before her match also went unfinished.
Up Next
MSU looks to earn a spot in the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, from April 23-26, with the bracket, dates and times to be announced at a later date.
Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's tennis team by following them on Instagram, X and Facebook @msu_wtennis
Tennis Match Results
Michigan vs Michigan State
4/18/2026 at East Lansing, Mich.
(MSU Indoor Tennis Center)
#17 Michigan 4, #67 Michigan State 1
Singles competition
1. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU-W) def. #31 Lily Jones (UM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
2. Ellie Blackford (MSU-W) vs. #11 Piper Charney (UM) 6-2, 1-6, 1-4, unfinished
3. #88 Reese Miller (UM) def. Matilde Morais (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-3
4. Emily Sartz-Lunde (UM) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-0
5. Jessica Bernales (UM) def. Nina Plihal (MSU-W) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU-W) vs. Gabriella Lindgren (UM) 7-6 (6-3), 3-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #57 Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morais (MSU-W) def. #26 Lily Jones/Jessica Bernales (UM) 6-4
2. Laura Rahnel/Reese Miller (UM) def. Amara Brahmbhatt/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU-W) 7-6 (7-3)
3. #86 Piper Charney/Emily Sartz-Lunde (UM) def. Nina Plihal/Issey Purser (MSU-W) 6-1
Match Notes:
Michigan 16-6; National ranking #17
Michigan State 11-12; National ranking #67
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,1,5)
T-3:53 A-24
Players Mentioned
