EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State women’s tennis battled but could not hold No. 34 Illinois at bay, falling to the Fighting Illini 4-0 at the Atkins Tennis Center on Friday night. With the loss, the Spartans move to 8-9 (1-5 Big Ten) on the season while the Fighting Illini improve to 12-5 (4-0 Big Ten).
In doubles, the Spartans would strike first at No. 3 slot with the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard earning their fourth-straight doubles win in a 6-4 decision over Illinois’ Kida Ferrari and Violeta Martinez to give MSU an early advantage. Illinois would storm back, however, taking the doubles point in dramatic fashion. At No. 1 doubles, Illinois’ No. 28 duo of Katherine Duong and Megan Heuser defeated MSU’s Ayshe Can and Liisa Vehvilainen, 7-5, while at No. 2 doubles, MSU’s Marley Lambert and Dagmar Zdrubecka fell in a tiebreak to the pairing of Josie Frazier and Emily Casati, 7-6 (1).
In singles, the Spartans would continue to battle but found themselves down quickly as Illinois pounced on the board with two quick singles wins. At No. 5 singles, Conard dropped a hard-fought contest against Illinois’ Kasia Treiber, 0-6, 3-6 as Illinois doubles its lead. In a daunting match at No. 2 singles, MSU’s Can could not overcome a second set deficit, falling 6-0, 6-4 to Illinois’ No. 121 Ashley Yeah as the Fighting Illini took a 3-0 lead.
Illinois would clinch the match in a contested battle at No. 3 singles as MSU’s Lambert could not complete the comeback, falling to Illinois’ Heuser, 6-2, 6-3, as the Fighting Illini rode out 4-0 victors at home.
Before the clinch, the Spartans…
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