EAST LANSING, Mich. — On a day painted with pride and poignant farewells, Michigan State Women’s Tennis closed out its final home match of the season in dramatic fashion with a thrilling 4-3 win over Oregon, thanks to a storybook finish authored by senior Liisa Vehviläinen in her final appearance on home courts.
In front of a supportive Spartan crowd at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center, the tension was high as the match came down to a 3-3 tie. All eyes turned to the No. 1 singles court where Vehviläinen, MSU’s lone senior and emotional leader, battled Oregon’s Marjorie Souza in a fiercely contested three-set showdown. With her team and home legacy on the line, Vehviläinen dug deep, showcasing resilience and heart, ultimately delivering a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory to clinch the match—and the moment—for the Green & White.
“This was everything,” Vehviläinen said after the match, smiling through joyful tears. “To end my home career like this, fighting for every point and finishing strong for my team… it means the world.”
Michigan State, ranked No. 58 nationally, now stands at 13-10 overall and 5-7 in Big Ten play, while Oregon dropped to 8-12 and 1-10 in conference action. Sunday’s win also marked MSU’s ninth home victory of the season (9-3 record)—a testament to their dominance in East Lansing.
The match began with doubles, where the Ducks struck early. Oregon’s pairings won on courts one and three, while MSU’s Tsitavets and Purser picked up a win on court two. In singles, the Spartans responded with fire:
- Amara Brahmbhatt struck first at No. 3 with a smooth 6-2, 6-3 win.
- Oriana Parkins-Godwin followed with a strong 6-3, 6-2 showing at No. 6.
- Oregon tied it again with a win on court four, but Hanna Tsitavets delivered a clutch performance, taking two intense tiebreaks on court five (7-6, 7-6).
After Blackford’s narrow loss on court two, the stage was set for Vehviläinen—and she delivered.
The Spartans now shift their focus to the regular-season finale, facing archrival Michigan in Ann Arbor on April 19 at 1 p.m., in a match with high stakes and even higher emotions.
As for Vehviläinen, she exits the home stage a hero, her name forever etched in Spartan tennis lore.
A senior’s farewell. A team’s triumph. A legacy sealed.
