EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State women’s tennis returns to conference action this weekend, kicking off a season-long four-dual road stretch with its first stop in Illinois. The Spartans will take on the No. 34 Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday, March 31 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT and close out the weekend taking on the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT.
Live scoring and streaming will be available on MSUSpartans.com
#UNMATCHED APPROACH
The Spartans head into the weekend at 8-8 (1-4 Big Ten) having snapped a season-long three-match losing streak last weekend at home. Sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen leads the Spartans with a 17-8 record overall this spring, including an 8-4 record singles. Freshman Marley Lambert is second on the squad with six singles wins, including winning records at the No. 2 and No. 4 singles positions.
In doubles, the tandem of Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen lead the team with a 9-4 record at No. 1 doubles, while the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard have won three-straight doubles matches to improve their record to 4-1 this spring.
LAST POINT
MSU concluded its three-dual homestand last weekend, splitting the weekend slate with its first Big Ten win of the season in a sweep over Minnesota on Saturday, March 25 before falling the next day to No. 17 Wisconsin, 5-0. MSU finished the homestand 1-2.
Against the Golden Gophers, MSU was able to utilize its personnel advantage to clinch the doubles point with Can and Vehvilainen picking up a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles. The Spartans would then start the singles portion up 2-0 after Minnesota forfeited a point due to a walkover and clinch the match as Can picked up a straight set win over Minnesota’s Anet Koskel just after Lambert picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win over Minnesota’s Zeyneb Sarioglan, pushing the Spartans to a sweep.
The following day, the Spartans fought hard but could not hold No. 17 Wisconsin at bay, falling to the Badgers, 5-0. Wisconsin would steal the doubles point from MSU following a thrilling tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles just after closing the deal at the No. 1 slot. After an injury forced the Spartans to shake their singles lineup, the Badgers responded by taking one-set leads on every court. The Badgers would take singles wins at No. 2 and No. 6 positions followed by simultaneous wins…
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