Friday, March 28
East Lansing, Mich.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
2
at
4
Michigan State
Photo by: Cami Henry/Northwestern Athletics
Jessel Notches Top-Three Takedown as Northwestern Falls to Michigan, Michigan State
3/30/2025 9:05:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Just a week after logging the first ranked singles win of her career, first-year Erica Jessel performed an even more impressive feat, taking down the No. 3 singles player in the country, Julia Fliegner, on Sunday in Ann Arbor. The performance wasn't enough for the 'Cats (10-10, 3-5 Big Ten), however, as they fell to both No. 3 Michigan and No. 73 Michigan State in a weekend road swing.
Jessel's victory over Fliegner, which she achieved in come-from-behind fashion after dropping the first set, was one of two ranked singles wins for the 'Cats against the Wolverines (15-3, 8-0 Big Ten). Ahead of Jessel, senior Sydney Pratt defeated No. 34 Lily Jones at the No. 3 spot, winning 6-4, 6-4 for her team-leading 13th individual victory of dual season.
Pratt and Jessel accounted for the Wildcat's two team points in the 4-2 loss to the Wolverines. Autumn Rabjohns, playing at No. 6 singles, was up 5-4 in the third set of her match before it went abandoned.
Before visiting Michigan, No. 44 Northwestern opened its weekend in East Lansing, where the 'Cats took on the Spartans (11-8, 3-5 Big Ten) on Friday afternoon. After Kiley Rabjohns and Britany Lau wrapped up a quick 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles, the rest of doubles play went down to the wire. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions were decided in tiebreaks that went in Michigan State's favor, giving them a 1-0 lead.
The 'Cats also got out ahead first in singles play. Neena Feldman won in straight sets at No. 5, dropping just one single game in the 6-1, 6-0 victory. The Spartans then took the lead again with a victory at No. 3 singles, but Lau tied it up at two-all with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot. That's all Northwestern would get, however, as Michigan State won matches at No. 1 and No. 4 singles to close out a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Northwestern women's tennis will be back in Evanston next weekend, when they'll get set to host Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes and the 'Cats will clash at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, then the weekend will conclude with a noon CT matchup with the Nittany Lions on Sunday.
Jessel's victory over Fliegner, which she achieved in come-from-behind fashion after dropping the first set, was one of two ranked singles wins for the 'Cats against the Wolverines (15-3, 8-0 Big Ten). Ahead of Jessel, senior Sydney Pratt defeated No. 34 Lily Jones at the No. 3 spot, winning 6-4, 6-4 for her team-leading 13th individual victory of dual season.
Pratt and Jessel accounted for the Wildcat's two team points in the 4-2 loss to the Wolverines. Autumn Rabjohns, playing at No. 6 singles, was up 5-4 in the third set of her match before it went abandoned.
Before visiting Michigan, No. 44 Northwestern opened its weekend in East Lansing, where the 'Cats took on the Spartans (11-8, 3-5 Big Ten) on Friday afternoon. After Kiley Rabjohns and Britany Lau wrapped up a quick 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles, the rest of doubles play went down to the wire. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions were decided in tiebreaks that went in Michigan State's favor, giving them a 1-0 lead.
The 'Cats also got out ahead first in singles play. Neena Feldman won in straight sets at No. 5, dropping just one single game in the 6-1, 6-0 victory. The Spartans then took the lead again with a victory at No. 3 singles, but Lau tied it up at two-all with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot. That's all Northwestern would get, however, as Michigan State won matches at No. 1 and No. 4 singles to close out a 4-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Northwestern women's tennis will be back in Evanston next weekend, when they'll get set to host Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes and the 'Cats will clash at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, then the weekend will conclude with a noon CT matchup with the Nittany Lions on Sunday.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
123
612
Liisa Vehvilainen / 0 [MSU-W]
266
#2 Singles Match
12
66
Ellie Blackford / 0 [MSU-W]
43
#3 Singles Match
12
21
Amara Brahmbhatt / 0 [MSU-W]
66
#4 Singles Match
12
43
Matilde Morais / 0 [MSU-W]
66
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Issey Purser / 0 [MSU-W]
10
#6 Singles Match
1234
1600
Hanna Tsitavets / 0 [MSU-W]
641UF
Order of Finish:
5,3,2,1,4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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