Jan. 24, 2010

Final Stats

Contact: Greg Murphy

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Cleveland State's Sanda Bjelan picked up a three-set win at No. 5 singles, but Michigan State earned a 6-1 victory over the Vikings in nonconference action on Sunday afternoon.

The loss drops CSU to 0-3 on the young season, while the Spartans improved to 1-1.

"We put together a challenging schedule to open the season and although the results may not be there in terms of wins, I feel like we are competing hard against quality teams and that will only help us as we gear toward the league schedule," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We didn't earn a single point against Michigan State last year and were able to win one match today so I think that shows some progress.

"We still have a lot of work to do as a team this season to get where we want to be. It is early in the season and we will continue to work hard to improve in every aspect. Hopefully we will be able to take some learning experiences away from our three matches this past week."

The Spartans swept the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead and went on to win five of the six singles matches.

Bjelan picked up the Vikings only win, topping Christine Milliken at No. 5 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.

"Sanda was very strong for us today and battled hard," Etzkin said.

Sophomore Catrine Bjerrehus battled hard at No. 1 singles, but lost in three sets to Nicole Herzog, 5-7, 6-1, 10-8.

After playing three matches this week to open the spring season, things slow down for the Vikings this week with just one match. CSU will play at Purdue on Saturday (Jan. 30) beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Michigan State 6, Cleveland State 1
Jan 24, 2010 at East Lansing, Mich.

Singles competition
1. HERZOG, Nicole (MSU) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 5-7, 6-1, 10-8
2. SILESOVA, Michaela (MSU) def. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. WILSON, Whitney (MSU) def. Janek, Nicole (CSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. IVANOVA, Elena (MSU) def. Gibbons, Charlotte (CSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Bjelan, Sanda (CSU) def. MILLIKEN, Christine (MSU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-7
6. STOCKWELL, Ashley (MSU) def. Muntean, Denisa (CSU) 6-3, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. HERZOG, Nicole/NOE, Manon (MSU) def. BJERREHUS, Catrine/GIBBONS, Charlotte (CSU) 8-5
2. BARTON, Amy/WILSON, Whitney (MSU) def. DRAKE, Molly/JANEK, Nicole (CSU) 8-6
3. IVANOVA, Elena/MILLIKEN, Christine (MSU) def. LAZARIS, Maria/MUNTEAN, Denisa (CSU) 8-2