Resilient Spartans Rally Past Xavier to Stay Perfect in Dual Play
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women’s tennis kept the early-season momentum rolling on Friday, grinding out a gritty 4-2 win over Xavier at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center. The Spartans remain undefeated in dual matches this season, and this one didn’t come easy.
From the opening serve, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. The doubles point slipped away from MSU, forcing the Green & White to dig deep in singles play - and that’s exactly what they did.
Doubles Start Sets the Stage
The Spartans opened the day with a shuffled lineup in doubles, but Xavier came out swinging. At No. 3 doubles, the new pairing of sophomore Amara Brahmbhatt and redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets couldn’t quite find their rhythm, falling 6-2 to Emily Flowers and Natalie Smitek.
Over at No. 1, Ellie Blackford and Matilde Morais looked like they might pull off a comeback after falling behind 3-0. They clawed their way back to even the score at 3-3, but Xavier’s Abby Nugent and Clara Owen closed the door with a 6-3 win to clinch the doubles point.
The No. 2 doubles match - featuring senior Issey Purser and sophomore Nina Plihal - was locked in a 5-5 battle when it was left unfinished. Still, the early deficit meant the Spartans had to flip the script in singles.
Singles Surge: Spartans Flip the Match
That’s where the Spartans showed their toughness.
Blackford wasted no time at No. 2 singles, dominating from start to finish in a 6-1, 6-1 statement win over Madeleine Rexroat to tie things up at 1-1.
Purser followed suit at No. 6, handling Abigail Siminski in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, to give MSU its first lead of the day. It was a composed performance from the senior, who stayed steady even as Siminski tried to push the match into a third.
Then came a hard-fought win from Plihal at No. 5.
She edged Clara Owen in a tight two-setter - 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) - that showcased her ability to close under pressure. That third point gave the Spartans some breathing room, but the match was far from over.
Brahmbhatt, ranked No. 116 nationally, found herself in a back-and-forth battle at No. 1 singles. After dropping the first set to Xavier’s Abby Nugent, she rebounded with a strong second set. But Nugent had just a bit more in the tank in the decider, taking it 6-4 to keep Xavier alive.
With the match hanging in the balance, all eyes turned to Tsitavets at No. 4.
She came out firing in the first set, taking it 6-2, but dropped the second just as quickly. That set up a winner-take-all third - and Tsitavets delivered.
She steadied her game, stayed aggressive in the rallies, and pulled away 6-2 to clinch the dual for Michigan State.
Morais’s match at No. 3 was left unfinished, but not before she and Flowers traded blows in a tight two-set split - 6-7 (7-9), 6-2.
What’s Next
Xavier will stay in East Lansing to face Gonzaga on Saturday in a neutral-site matchup.
As for the Spartans, Sunday brings a busy doubleheader at home - first against Gonzaga at 10 a.m., then Ball State at 2 p.m. It’s also Youth and Family Day at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, with kid-friendly activities like face tattoos and a coloring station on tap.
With three wins already in the books and a perfect record still intact, Michigan State is building something early in this season. The depth, the resilience, and the ability to respond under pressure - it’s all there. And if Friday’s comeback was any indication, this squad is just getting started.