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No. 59 Michigan State Plays Host to No. 26 Michigan in Mid-Week Showdown
 
Spartans coming off back-to-back against No. 57 Minnesota and No. 46 Iowa.
 
 
 

 
Lindsey Lonergan went undefeated last weekend against Minnesota and Iowa, winning two doubles and two singles matches.
 
 

April 8, 2008

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COMING UP
The No. 59 Michigan State women's tennis team entertains No. 26 Michigan on Wednesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The Wolverines hold a 30-15 edge over the Spartans in the all-time series dating back to 1975.

LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans edged No. 46 Iowa, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. The Spartans came out swinging in doubles, taking two of three matches and earning the 1-0 lead. MSU is now 12-1 when winning the early doubles point. Michigan State did just enough in singles, as it split 3-3, hanging on for the one-point victory.

MSU hung tough in a close doubles competition, taking matches at No. 1 and No. 3. MSU's Christine Bader and Whitney Wilson set the tone, downing Jacqueline Lee and Alexis Dorr, 8-6, at No. 1. In the third flight, Lindsey Lonergan and Stephanie Kebler clipped Iowa's Lynne Poggensee-Wei and Kayla Berry, 8-6. Lonergan's quick reaction was the key to the point-clinching match, as her leaping drop shot left the ball dead, just inches over the net.

In singles play, Lonergan stayed hot as she gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead, after defeating Poggensee-Wei in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 4. MSU's No. 5 Ana Milosavljevic followed just seconds later with a straight-set win of her own, taking out Kelcie Klockenga, 6-1, 7-5.

With the score 3-0, Iowa put its first point on the board, as MSU's Manon Noe fell to Dorr at No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-0.

Soon after, MSU's No. 1 Bader clinched the match for Michigan State, dropping Lee in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, giving the Spartans their second-consecutive victory over a ranked opponent.

In the last two matches of the day, MSU's No. 6 Wilson was defeated by Kayla Berry, 7-5, 6-4, and Iowa's Milica Veselinovic finished her comeback, after dropping the first set, defeating Kebler, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2.

HERE THEY COME
Michigan State is now ranked No. 59 in the nation, moving up 12 spots from last week, after back-to-back wins over No. 57 Minnesota and No. 46 Iowa. It marks the first time the team has been ranked since mid-season of last year, and its the Spartans' highest ranking in more than ten seasons.

A LOOK AT THE WOLVERINES
No. 26 Michigan had a rough start to the season, losing four of its first six matches, but has gone a tear since, and are currently riding a 10-match win streak. Junior Chisako Sugiyama is currently ranked No. 46 in the nation, and holds a record of 12-3 in dual-match play at No. 1 singles. Freshman Whitney Taney has been impressive in her freshman campaign, claiming a record of 10-1 at No. 2 singles. No. 56 Sugiyama and Tania Mahtani have posted a mark of 12-4 at No. 1 doubles in dual-match play, going 6-0 in Big Ten competition.

ON FIRE
Senior Christine Bader has won five of her last seven matches at No. 1 singles, and is now ranked No. 113 in the nation, following a huge win over the 30th ranked player in the nation, Washington's Venise Chan, on March 26.

SITTING AT THE TOP
Lindsey Lonergan and Ana Milosavljevic are tied for the team lead in wins on the season. Lonergan has posted a mark of 19-10, going 11-6 at No. 4 singles, while Milosavljevic sits with record of 19-8, including 9-5 at No. 5 singles.

SINGLES SUCCESS
The Spartans have a winning record at five of six singles positions in dual-match play so far. By position, Lindsey Lonergan (No. 4) and Christine Bader (No. 1) lead the team with 11 victories.

UP NEXT
Michigan State plays the final match of its four-match homestand, taking on Penn State on Sunday, April 13 at 5 p.m. in East Lansing.