SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga University women's tennis opened the Spring 2025 slate with a 5-2 victory over Michigan State on Friday at the Stevens Center.

The Bulldogs secured the doubles point as the second and third flights — Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal and Norham Hesham/Brooke Bittner — each prevailed 6-3. Emily Robertson/Safien Boulonois, GU's #1 pairing, led MSU 5-4 when the point was clinched.

Five singles bouts went to a final frame, with the Zags outlasting the Spartans in four matches. Ella Nielsen notched the first singles point for Gonzaga with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win, while Hayes and Hesham each triumphed 6-4 in their third sets after dropping the middle frame. Bittner fell in the opening set, then took the momentum of winning a second-frame tiebreaker to bagel her opponent 6-0 in the final set.

Up next: The Bulldogs will host Eastern Washington at 3 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Stevens Center. Live stats and video will be available at GoZags.com.

1/17 Results:
Doubles

1. Emily Robertson/Safien Boulonois (unfinished) Liisa Vehviläinen/Ellie Blackford (MSU) 5-4
2. Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal def. Issey Purser/Natalie Stasny (MSU) 6-3
3. Norhan Hesham/Brooke Bittner def. Matilde Morais/Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 6-3

Singles

1. Liisa Vehviläinen (MSU) def. Emily Robertson 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Rose Hayes def. Matilde Morais (MSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Ellie Blackford (MSU) def. Safien Boulonois 6-0, 6-1
4. Norhan Hesham def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
5. Ella Nielsen def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. Brooke Bittner def. Natalie Stasny (MSU) 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-0