Spartans head to Spokane, Washington to take on Gonzaga and Washington State.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State women's tennis opens the spring team action by traveling to Spokane, Washington for dual match play against Gonzaga and Washington State.
Both matches will be played at Gonzaga's Stevens Center. Fans can follow the action with "live stats" and "watch live" links for Friday's match vs. Gonzaga and "watch live" link only for Sunday's match vs. Washington State, at MSUSpartans.com.
After a 10-16 season in 2023-24, the Spartans look forward to a bounce-back year with a strong corps of veterans joined by fresh faces and new talent.
The Spartans' lone senior is Liisa Vehviläinen, while juniors Sarah Fazlagic, Matilde Morais and Issey Purser, along with junior Natalie Stasny contribute leadership and skills.
Freshmen Ellie Blackford, Amara Brahmbhatt and Olivia Kutlova showed promise throughout the Fall tournament season, all competing in at least one tournament.
Two transfers joined the Spartans with the redshirt-sophomore duo of Oriana Parkins-Godwin from Drake and Hanna Tsitavets from Georgia Southern, adding some maturity and depth to the roster.
With the returning Spartans combined with the newcomers, the fall tournament season was a success, with the Green & White picking up various single and double match victories, and now turn their attention toward spring action.
Gonzaga stands as the Spartans first opponent, hosting Michigan State and other opponents throughout the weekend. This is the second meeting of the teams within the last five years, with the Bulldogs attending the Michigan State during the 2023-24 tournament season.
The last time the teams met in dual action was during the 2019-20 season, where Michigan State took the match 4-0.
On Sunday, the Green & White remain in Spokane to face off against Washington State, who has already begun their season. The Cougars took on UC Davis on January 11, sweeping the Mustangs, 7-0.
This is the first time since 2019 that the Cougars and Spartans will be facing off for a match, being only the second time that the teams have competed against one another.
Michigan State returns to East Lansing for its home opener on Jan. 24, a 5 p.m. meeting between the Spartans and Xavier, hosted at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
Visit MSUSpartans.com for more information on Michigan State women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the Spartan women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @MSU_WTennis
Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.
