Women's Tennis

Jan. 17, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's tennis team will open up its spring season when they host Oakland University, Wednesday, January 18th. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and will take place at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.

Fall Recap
During the 2011 fall season, the Spartans competed in a total of four tournaments, hosting two, under the direction of Simone Jardim who is in her fourth season as the head coach of the squad. Also in the fall, Michigan State welcomed Tyler Faulkner as an assistant coach. Faulkner spent the previous four years at Troy University serving as both the men's and women's head tennis coach. The Spartans return eight letter-winners from the 2010-11 season.

Back on the court are juniors Amy Barton, Dana Guentert, Nicole Herzog and Michaela Silesova. The sophomore class includes Marina Bohrer, Olga Chernova, Emily LeBlanc, Katarina Lingl, Valentina Rusakova and Jennifer Yen. MSU's two freshmen are Julianne Gruber and Hilary Hager.

The Spartans collectively compiled a 31-44 singles record in tournament play and an 11-23 record in doubles matches. Sophomore Katarina Lingl led the way for the Spartans, notching 7 singles wins. Lingl captured a bracket victory this fall, winning the Singles Black at the ITA Second Chance Regional tournament. Redshirt junior Dana Guentert was another Spartan to win a bracket in fall tournament play. Guentert won Draw E of MSU's own Green and White Invite that took place in November.

Michigan State's two freshmen also got off to an impressive start. Julianne Gruber notched a record of 5-5 in singles play in her debut fall season. Hilary Hager went 5-6 in singles action and tallied three back-to-back singles victories in her first tournament at the Spartan Invitational.

Herzog and Lingl matched up together to go 2-2 in doubles action during tournament play. The duo notched both wins in the Green and White Invite. Lingl and Gruber also recorded a 2-3 record tallying wins in the ITA Second Regional tournament and the Green and White Invite. Gruber also won two more doubles matches alongside of both Amy Barton and Olga Chernova.

Looking at Oakland
Oakland University (0-1) travels to East Lansing after suffering its first defeat of the season. The Grizzlies fell in their season opener at Eastern Michigan, 7-0. OU was able to take a point in each of its doubles matches, but were unable to get a point on the board against the Eagles. Oakland is led by four seniors, Demi Georgakopoulos, Karen Karoub, Caryn Kimmel and Caitlin Young.

Next up
The Spartans play nine straight home matches. Next up on the schedule, the Green and White welcome Akron on Sunday, Jan. 22nd at noon.

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