Box Score

March 21, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- On the road for the fourth straight weekend, the Wisconsin women's tennis team dropped its second Big Ten match of the season, falling 4-3 to No. 44 Michigan State.

Wisconsin (6-6, 0-2 B1G) had a chance to win late in the match, but ultimately was unable to pull off the road upset over the Spartans (14-2, 3-0 B1G).

"Once again," head coach Tina Samara started, "we suffered a 4-3 loss without the doubles point. We rallied and made it a tight match, but you put yourself in a hole when you start from behind."

The doubles point has proven to be a major indicator for the Badgers this season, as Wisconsin is now 0-6 when losing the doubles point. When winning the doubles point, those numbers flip, as the Badgers are 6-0 when claiming the first point of the match.

The Badger women split their singles matches, winning on courts 2, 5, and 6.

Ekaterina Stepanova made her first appearance above the sixth court, as she defeated Athena Trouillot in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0 on the court No. 5. Stepanova's win was first singles match of the day to finish, tying the match at 1-1.

Kelsey Grambeau finished off her court six opponent, Emily Meyers, 6-4, 6-2, following an MSU singles match victory to tie the match once again at 2-2.

Michigan State picked up another point on the fourth court, but that only set the stage for the top two singles matchups to play out and decide the match.

Maria Avgerinos notched her eighth win of the season, knocking off Michigan State's Lexi Baylis, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), but Lauren Chypyha couldn't rally for the fourth point and fell to MSU's top player, Erin Faulkner, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

"We have to learn how to not have lulls in our matches," Samara said. "We fought like crazy at the end to pull out three singles wins and have a chance in a few others, but we have to learn how to do that from start, through the middle, until the end of our matches.

We better be positive and ready to go tomorrow"

The Badgers stay in the state of Michigan, traveling to Ann Arbor to battle their highest ranked opponent of the year in No. 13 Michigan.

Michigan State4, Wisconsin 3
March 21, 2015
Singles:

1. Erin Faulkner (MSU) def. Lauren Chypyha (WIS) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5

2. Maria Avgerinos (WIS) def. Lexi Baylis (MSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

3. Aslina Chua (MSU) def. Lauren Burich (WIS) 6-3, 6-1

4. Catherine Parenteau (MSU) def. Sydney Rider (WIS) 7-5, 6-4

5. Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) def. Athena Trouillot (MSU) 6-4, 6-0

6. Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) def. Emily Meyers (MSU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Erin Faulkner/Athena Trouillot (MSU) def. Lauren Chypyha/Maria Avgerinos (WIS) 8-4

2. Allie Baer/Catherine Parenteau (MSU) def. Lauren Burich/Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) 8-1

3. Lexi Baylis/Emily Meyers (MSU) vs. Sydney Rider/Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS) 7-5, unfinished

Notes:

Wisconsin 6-6, 0-2 B1G

Michigan State 14-2, 3-0 B1G; National ranking #44

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,6,4,1,2)

Time-3:28 Attendance-115