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Photo by: Claudia Staut
Minnesota Edged by No. 75 Michigan State, 4-2
3/29/2026 4:01:00 PM | Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Minnesota tennis team fell to No. 75 Michigan State, 4-2, on Sunday at the Baseline Tennis Center, dropping to 10-12 on the season.
Key Moments
Minnesota secured the doubles point against Michigan State, winning two of three matches in doubles play. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto opened with a 6-4 victory over Oriana Parkins-Godwin and Issey Purser at the No. 2 position. Michigan State answered at No. 3 doubles, where Nora Knezevic and Mia Liepert fell 6-3 to Amara Brahmbhatt and Hanna Tsitavets. The Gophers clinched the point at the No. 1 spot as Yinong Ma and Arina Valitova rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat No. 57 Ellie Blackford and Matilde Morais 7-5.
Michigan State claimed four singles wins to secure the match over Minnesota. Nora Knezevic fell 6-0, 1-6, 3-6 to Issey Purser at the No. 6 position, followed by a 6-1, 6-2 loss from Yinong Ma to Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 5. Sofia Pinto earned the Gophers' lone point with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory over Hanna Tsitavets at No. 4, marking her 75th career singles win. Aiva Schmitz dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 decision to Matilde Morais at No. 3, and Mia Liepert fell 5-7, 6-2, 4-6 to Amara Brahmbhatt at No. 2 to clinch the match for Michigan State. Jeselle Ante's match against Ellie Blackford at the No. 1 position was left unfinished, with Ante leading 6-4, 3-6, 3-4.
Results
Doubles
1. Yinong Ma/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. No. 57 Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morias (MSU) 7-5.
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU) 6-4.
3. Nora Knezevic/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Amara Brahmbhatt/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 3-6.
Singles
1. Jeselle Ante (MINN) vs. Ellie Blackford (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished.
2. Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) 5-7, 6-2, 4-6.
3. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) lost to Matilde Morias (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 2-6.
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-1.
5. Yinong Ma (MINN) lost to Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) 1-6, 2-6.
6. Nora Knezevic (MINN) lost to Issey Purser (MSU) 6-0, 1-6, 3-6.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (2, 3, 1)
Singles: (6, 5, 4, 3, 2)
Next Up
The Gophers will travel to Madison, Wis. on April 4 to face the Wisconsin Badgers at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Key Moments
Minnesota secured the doubles point against Michigan State, winning two of three matches in doubles play. Jeselle Ante and Sofia Pinto opened with a 6-4 victory over Oriana Parkins-Godwin and Issey Purser at the No. 2 position. Michigan State answered at No. 3 doubles, where Nora Knezevic and Mia Liepert fell 6-3 to Amara Brahmbhatt and Hanna Tsitavets. The Gophers clinched the point at the No. 1 spot as Yinong Ma and Arina Valitova rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat No. 57 Ellie Blackford and Matilde Morais 7-5.
Michigan State claimed four singles wins to secure the match over Minnesota. Nora Knezevic fell 6-0, 1-6, 3-6 to Issey Purser at the No. 6 position, followed by a 6-1, 6-2 loss from Yinong Ma to Oriana Parkins-Godwin at No. 5. Sofia Pinto earned the Gophers' lone point with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory over Hanna Tsitavets at No. 4, marking her 75th career singles win. Aiva Schmitz dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 decision to Matilde Morais at No. 3, and Mia Liepert fell 5-7, 6-2, 4-6 to Amara Brahmbhatt at No. 2 to clinch the match for Michigan State. Jeselle Ante's match against Ellie Blackford at the No. 1 position was left unfinished, with Ante leading 6-4, 3-6, 3-4.
Results
Doubles
1. Yinong Ma/Arina Valitova (MINN) def. No. 57 Ellie Blackford/Matilde Morias (MSU) 7-5.
2. Jeselle Ante/Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Oriana Parkins-Godwin/Issey Purser (MSU) 6-4.
3. Nora Knezevic/Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Amara Brahmbhatt/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 3-6.
Singles
1. Jeselle Ante (MINN) vs. Ellie Blackford (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished.
2. Mia Liepert (MINN) lost to Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) 5-7, 6-2, 4-6.
3. Aiva Schmitz (MINN) lost to Matilde Morias (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 2-6.
4. Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-1.
5. Yinong Ma (MINN) lost to Oriana Parkins-Godwin (MSU) 1-6, 2-6.
6. Nora Knezevic (MINN) lost to Issey Purser (MSU) 6-0, 1-6, 3-6.
Order of Finish
Doubles: (2, 3, 1)
Singles: (6, 5, 4, 3, 2)
Next Up
The Gophers will travel to Madison, Wis. on April 4 to face the Wisconsin Badgers at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
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