Spartans Serve Up a Statement: MSU Women’s Tennis Opens Spring Season with Back-to-Back 4-0 Wins
EAST LANSING, Mich. - If Sunday was any indication, Michigan State women’s tennis is ready to make some serious noise this spring. The Spartans opened their 2026 dual-match season with authority, sweeping both Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan in a doubleheader at home. Two matches, two 4-0 wins - and a whole lot of momentum heading into the heart of their five-match homestand.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded.
Morning Match: Spartans Fight Back to Top Western Michigan
The day began with a test. Western Michigan came out swinging, and MSU’s first doubles pairing - senior Sarah Fazlagic and redshirt junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin - found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-1 result against the Broncos’ Julia Frazier and Sienna Osborne.
But the Spartans didn’t flinch. Sophomore Ellie Blackford and senior Matilde Morais responded with a convincing 6-2 win over Lola Glantz and Marielou Baudouin. That left it up to sophomore Nina Plihal and senior Issey Purser, who delivered with a 6-3 win over Audrey Smitek and Frida Weijerman to clinch the doubles point.
From there, MSU took command in singles.
Redshirt junior Hanna Tsitavets wasted no time, dominating Baudouin 6-1, 6-0 in a statement win. Blackford followed with a strong performance of her own, dispatching Weijerman 6-3, 6-1.
Then it was Purser who sealed the match, grinding out a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Frazier to give the Spartans their first win of the season. The remaining singles matches were left unfinished, but the tone had been set.
Afternoon Match: MSU Stays Locked In Against Eastern Michigan
After a short break, the Spartans were right back on the court for round two - and the Eagles didn’t make it easy early on.
Eastern Michigan grabbed the first doubles match, with Iva Daneva and Roberta Mendez Carreno overpowering Fazlagic and Parkins-Godwin 6-1. But just like in the morning session, MSU’s depth and resilience in doubles shined through.
Blackford and Morais continued their strong day, rolling to a 6-1 win over Lara Diaz Zayas and Cylova Zuleyka. That set the stage once again for Plihal and Purser, who stayed perfect on the day with a 6-3 win over Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova. Another doubles point in the books.
In singles, Parkins-Godwin set the tone with a steady 6-4, 6-0 win over Daneva. Purser followed with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 victory over Parreira, and Blackford - bumped up to the No. 1 singles spot - closed the door with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Zuleyka.
Two matches. Two sweeps. And a team that looks locked in from top to bottom.
What’s Next for the Spartans
With a 2-0 start under their belt, the Spartans will return to the MSU Indoor Tennis Center on Friday, Feb. 6 to take on Xavier at 4:30 p.m. Then it’s another doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 8, with matchups against Gonzaga at 10 a.m. and Ball State at 2 p.m.
The early returns are promising. This is a group that’s showing chemistry in doubles, depth in singles, and the kind of competitive edge that could carry them through a tough spring slate. Purser and Blackford, in particular, looked sharp throughout the day, while the team’s ability to bounce back from early setbacks speaks volumes about their mindset.
It’s early, but the Spartans are already making their presence known.