EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's tennis got out to a strong start in doubles but were overcome in the singles competition as the Liberty Flames took home a 4-2 victory on Friday night inside the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
 
Spartan sophomore Liisa Vehvilainen published an undefeated effort against the Flames on Friday, registering the first home doubles win of the season alongside junior Ayshe Can, as well as a dominant straight-set victory in the singles competition at the No. 2 spot. Vehvilainen climbs to 6-4 overall with a 2-1 dual match record this season in singles. On the doubles courts, the pairing of Can and Vehvilainen continue their impressive series of results, climbing to 6-4 as a tandem highlighted by a nationally-ranked win over Northwestern's No. 58 Clarissa Hand and Maria Shusharina during the fall tournament slate.
 
The evening opened on the doubles courts, with the Spartans swiftly snagging the opening point of the match courtesy of wins at the top two positions. MSU christened the 2023 home slate at the No. 1 court, with Ayshe Can and Vehvilainen registering a dominant 6-2 victory over Marina Davtyan and Maria Juliana Parra Romero. The Spartan top-line tandem rattled off four straight games after the match was deadlocked at 2-all to secure the first home doubles win of the season.
 
MSU saw continued success at the No. 2 position, with Nicole Conard and Marley Lambert defeating Maretha Burger and Esther Lovato by a 6-4 margin. The final doubles match at the No. 3 spot came down to the wire, but Issey Purser and Dagmar Zdrubecka were able to force a tiebreaker to decide their match at 6-all. Despite yet another back-and-forth affair in the breaker, the Spartan tandem toppled Tiffany Nguyen and Micaela Ode Mitre by a 7-6(7) tally to secure the doubles sweep. Michigan State took all three doubles courts for the second time this season out of their three dual match opportunities.
 
After Michigan State welcomed back multiple former coaches and alumni in an intermission ceremony, the teams re-took the courts for singles. Liberty got out to a solid start in the remaining six matches of the evening, taking four first sets overall. Despite a quick start from the Flames, the Green & White were able to double their early lead with a straight-set victory on court two from Vehvilainen over Alexandra Almborg, with the Turku, Finland, native Spartan notching a 6-1, 6-2 win. The Flames responded on court six, as Ode Mitre toppled Conard in a 6-3, 6-3 contest. Davtyan maintained Liberty's momentum on court four against Lambert, downing the Spartan freshman in a 6-4, 6-4 straight-set contest.
 
With the match deadlocked at 2-all, the Flames looked to Nguyen on court five to haul in the go-ahead score against Purser. The Ascot, United Kingdom, native Spartan forced a tiebreaker in the first set but ultimately yielded a 7-6(2), 6-1 result with two matches left standing. Both remaining singles courts were engaged in third-set competition, as Can took the first set off of Romero at the top line but surrendered the second to force a decisive frame. On court three, MSU freshman Juliette Nask went back and forth with Lovato, but Liberty's veteran starter came out on top in a 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 result to clinch the match. Can had just rattled off two straight games and trailed 6-4, 3-6, 4-5 as the match was suspended.
 
Michigan State falls to 1-2 overall on the 2023 dual match season following Friday night's home-opening defeat. Liberty improves to 4-1 on the young season heading into another dual in East Lansing against Miami (OH) on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.
 
UP NEXT
Michigan State women's tennis remains on the Banks of the Red Cedar, as the Spartans face off against Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green in a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 5. First serve against the RedHawks is 10 a.m., with a 2 p.m. start tabbed against the Falcons.
 
POSTMATCH QUOTES
MICHIGAN STATE QUOTES
Head Coach Kim Bruno
On how the team improved between the Notre Dame and Liberty matches…
"I thought it was better, but not enough. We had opportunities, and set points at multiple different courts. We had so many opportunities out there today. So, I think our shot tolerance at certain times has to improve, and our ability to just keep at it has to stay consistent. We just need to keep at it, and I have every reason to believe that we will continue to improve as the season goes on."
 
On the doubles matches and the keys to that sweep…
"I mean, that was great. We've been practicing a lot of doubles, just really focusing on having solid fundamentals, getting forward first and winning at the net. For me, it's all about winning battles, and I think we did a good job of that. So I'm proud of that, but you have to follow that up with some singles wins."
 
On it still being a very young season and areas of improvement they're looking to build on…
"The team has to learn in these moments here. We have to go back and look at some film and see where they faltered so we can adjust. We need to make those adjustments moving into Sunday's doubleheader. So tomorrow, we have to learn. I'm reminded of the phrase 'you don't lose, you learn.' That's our job right now. Liberty is a tough team though. At the end of the day, we got beat. We didn't beat ourselves a ton, so that's all you can do. I'm proud of how the players competed. We're going to keep our heads up and look forward to this weekend. That's all we can do."
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
Michigan State 2, Liberty 4
MSU Indoor Tennis Center – East Lansing, Mich.
DOUBLES
1. Ayshe Can / Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) def. Marina Davtyan / Maria Juliana Parra Romero (LIB) 6-2
2. Nicole Conard / Marley Lambert (MSU) def. Maretha Burger / Esther Lovato (LIB) 6-4
3. Issey Purser / Dagmar Zdrubecka (MSU) def. Tiffany Nguyen / Micaela Ode Mitre (LIB) 7-6(7)
 
SINGLES
1. Ayshe Can (MSU) vs. Maria Juliana Parra Romero (LIB) 6-4, 3-6, 4-5, unfinished
2. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) def. Alexandra Almborg (LIB) 6-1, 6-2
3. Esther Lovato (LIB) def. Juliette Nask (MSU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
4. Marina Davtyan (LIB) def. Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Tiffany Nguyen (LIB) def. Issey Purser (MSU) 7-6(2), 6-1
6. Micaela Ode Mitre (LIB) def. Nicole Conard (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,6,4,5,3)
 
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