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Michigan State Women's Tennis Upsets No. 35 Washington, 6-1
 
Spartans sweep doubles play, take five of six in singles.
 
 
 

 
Christine Bader had a big win for the Spartans at No. 1, taking out No. 30 Venise Chan, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
 
 

March 26, 2008

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MSU Head Coach Erica Perkins
Senior Christine Bader
Junior Stephanie Kebler

Results

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team put on an impressive performance at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility on Wednesday afternoon, blowing out No. 35 Washington, 6-1. The Spartans (10-6, 1-1 Big Ten) came out on fire, sweeping the doubles competition. Michigan State kept the momentum as it rolled through singles play, downing the Huskies in five of six flights.

The Spartans looked dominating in the opening doubles session, sweeping the Huskies in all three matches, and taking the early 1-0 lead. Manon Noe and Ana Milosavljevic struck first for MSU with an 8-6 win over Kelsey Anonsen and Venise Chan at No. 2. Stephanie Kebler and Lindsey Lonergan secured the doubles point shortly after, picking up their sixth win in seven matches at No. 3, as they defeated Aleksandra Malovic and Vanja Radunovic, 8-4. At No. 1, Christine Bader and Whitney Wilson completed the sweep for the Spartans, taking out Joyce Ardies and Tara Simpson, 8-5.

"We played gutsy, aggressive doubles today at all three positions," said MSU head coach Erica Perkins. "I was really pleased with Manon Noe and Ana Milosavljevic's poise down the stretch after getting broke at 7-5, they turned around and played one of the best return games that they've played all year to win the match and clinch the point for us."

 

 

There was no letting up for Michigan State in the singles flights, as Kebler made short work of Washington's Malovic in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. At No. 5 singles MSU's Wilson punctuated her 6-4, 6-3 win, acing Vanja Radunovic on match point, while MSU's No. 1 Bader secured the match for the Spartans with a big win over No. 30 Chan, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. MSU's No. 6, Michelle Murphy, was the next Spartan on the board, downing Anonsen in a super-tie breaker, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9). Noe capped off Michigan State's rout of Washington, taking out No. 99 Tara Simpson, 7-5, 7-5.

"We knew Washington would be a very dangerous team in singles and we would have to come out aggressively," Perkins said. "Every player took care of their respective court and I couldn't be more proud of how we performed today. It truly was a team effort."

Michigan State returns to action on Friday, as it travels to Bloomington, Ind., for a matchup with No. 32 Indiana at 3 p.m. MSU then stays on the road to take on No. 31 Ohio State at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30.