Feb. 24, 2008

Results

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The Michigan State women's tennis team completed the sweep of its weekend doubleheader, finishing off East Tennessee State, 5-2, on Sunday morning in Bristol, Tenn. Christine Bader had a big win for the Spartans at No. 1 singles, downing ETSU's Yevgeniya Stupak in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. MSU is now 7-4 in dual-match play this season.

Michigan State took the early advantage, winning two of three doubles flights, and jumping out to a 1-0 lead. At No. 2, Manon Noe and Ana Milosavljevic defeated ETSU's Elena Volobueva and Whitney Trotter, 8-3, while MSU's Lindsey Lonergan and Stephanie Kebler took out Tara Sheets and Tara Byrne, 8-4, at No. 3.

In addition to Bader's win at No. 1 singles, MSU's No. 5 Milosavljevic recovered from a tough 6-1 loss in the first set, to pull out the win over Sheets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. At No. 6, MSU's Ally Wickman beat Trotter, 6-1, 6-2, while Lonergan fought off three match points to clip ETSU's Andra Voinea, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

"This was a good one to win, especially after a tough 4-3 loss to them last year," said MSU head coach Erica Perkins. "The doubles point proved pivotal today, as it usually does, and we were able to come out running in the singles. Bader winning her match in straight sets was huge, because at the time we were struggling at two, three and four. Lindsey's comeback in the third set was awesome. She left it all on the court. Ana played great second and third sets after struggling with nerves in the first to clinch the match. Ally's match was huge as she jumped out to a big lead as we were at turning points at four and five. It was a total team effort today, and I couldn't be more proud of how we competed."

MSU returns to action on March 8, as it travels to Huntington, W. Va., to take on Marshall at 12 p.m.