Friday
MSU Women’s Tennis Grounds the Rockets 5-2
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State women's tennis team won its second-straight match, defeating Toledo inside the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility on Friday afternoon 5-2.The Spartans improved to 3-2 overall, while the Rockets fall to 3-2. MSU extends its perfect record against Toledo in the all-time series to 23-0.
"We started a little nervous and emotional," said Michigan State head coach Kim Bruno. "The girls worked through it and fought for the win. After securing the doubles point, it was nice to have an early lead in some of our singles matches. It's a great start to our homestand."
Action began on the doubles court with the tandem of sophomore Issey Purser and freshman Ria Bhakta dominating on court three, as they worked past the rockets 6-0 to be the first court to finish. Courts one and two were in tighter battles, junior Liisa Vehvilainen and sophomore Matilde Morais took down Toledo's pairing of Gaby Rondon and Cassie Alcala in a back-and-forth battle on court two, 6-4, to lock in the doubles point. On court one, Ayshe Can and Nicole Conard paired together for the second time in their career and trailed 6-5 but the match went unfinished.
Heading into singles action, Toledo didn't take long to tie the action as Purser fell in two sets 6-3, 6-0. The Spartans would surge taking the next three matches on courts five, three and two. Ria Bhakta put an early explanation point on her match sweeping Shalini Tallamraju 6-1, 6-1 on court five to win her second straight singles match and extended MSU lead to 2-1. Next up on court two, Vehvilainen kept the winning going as she went to defeat Sanjana Tallamraju in two sets 6-1, 6-2. On court two, Can found herself in an early battle against Gaby Rondon as the first set went into a tiebreaker. The Weston, Florida, native had the upper hand and took the first set 7-6 [7-2] and did not let up with a commanding 6-1 second set to seal the Spartan victory.
Sophomore Matilde Morais was in a battle against Cassie Alcala, as two of three sets went into a tiebreakers. Morais owned the first set 7-6 [7-2] before falling in the second set 6-3. In the third and final set, the Cascais, Portugal, native came back from being down 5-3 to win 11-9.
Michigan State will have a quick turnaround as it returns to the courts for a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 11 when it takes on Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
RESULTS
Michigan State 5, Toledo 2
Singles competition
1. Matilde Morais (MSU) def. Cassie Alcala (TOL) 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 1-0 (11-9)
2. Ayshe Can (MSU) def. Gaby Rondon (TOL) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
3. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) def. Sanjana Tallamraju (TOL) 6-1, 6-2
4. Sloane Teske (TOL) def. Issey Purser (MSUW) 6-3, 6-0
5. Ria Bhakta (MSU) def. Shalini Tallamraju (TOL) 6-1, 6-1
6. Audrey Moutama (TOL) def. Natalie Stasny (MSU) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5)
Doubles competition
1. Ayshe Can/Nicole Conard (MSU) vs. Julia Kuszynski/Sanjana Tallamraju (TOL) 5-6, unfinished
2. Liisa Vehvilainen/Matilde Morais (MSU) def. Gaby Rondon/Cassie Alcala (TOL) 6-4
3. Issey Purser/Ria Bhakta (MSU) def. Sloane Teske/Audrey Moutama (TOL) 6-0
