The Michigan State women’s tennis team fought through three-set battles and emotional swings but ultimately fell 4-2 to Ivy League opponent Dartmouth, marking their first home loss of the season in a match decided by slim margins.

From the opening doubles point, the tone had been set: nothing would come easily.

Dartmouth’s pairings struck first, taking two of three doubles courts to claim the crucial opening point. The No. 2 doubles team of Sam Grosjean and Alexandra Orlins defeated MSU's Matilde Morais and Nina Plihal 6-2, while Michaela Moore and Peyton Capuano secured a 6-4 win over Oriana Parkins-Godwin and Issey Purser.

For MSU head coach Kim Bruno, the early deficit was frustrating — but not decisive.

"I thought we were better than what we showed in doubles, to be honest," Bruno said. "The mentality is like, you gotta have a goldfish memory at that point. That's one point. Obviously today proved to be a big point, but we still have six points out there."

That "goldfish memory" mentality — forget, reset, move forward — became integral as singles play relied into a psychological and physical grind.

On Court 6, junior Hanna Tsitavets delivered MSU's most composed performance of the day. Her forehand dictated play early, helping her build a commanding 6-1 first-set win over Dartmouth’s Lauren Han. Even as Han forced longer rallies in the second set, Tsitavets maintained control, closing out the match 6-4 with the same aggressive precision that defined her afternoon.

Her performance provided a stabilizing force for the Spartans, proof that control was possible even amid chaos.

Elsewhere, however, control proved elusive.

Sophomore Ellie Blackford struggled to find her rhythm on Court 1 against Dartmouth’s Moore. Forehands sailed long, routine shots clipped the net and visible frustration crept into her game. After briefly narrowing the deficit, Blackford dropped the first set 6-3 and fell behind quickly in the second before ultimately losing in straight sets.

Sophomore Amara Brahmbhatt faced similar difficulties against Capuano on Court 2. Despite moments of aggressive play and well-placed forehands that briefly leveled the score, she struggled to consistently return Capuano’s serve. Capuano capitalized, winning 6-2, 6-1 and putting Dartmouth firmly in control.

The Spartans now shifted focus, with the aim of breaking momentum.  

On Court 3, senior Morais showcased resilience in one of the match’s most dramatic contests. After losing a tightly contested first-set tiebreak, Morais raised her level, using smart placement and patience to take the second set 6-4. She carried that momentum into the deciding set, turning her match into one of several critical third-set battles.

Sophomore Plihal mirrored that fight on Court 4, blending tactical drop shots with perfectly placed down-the-line winners. She edged out the first set in a tense tiebreak and later pushed her opponent to the brink again, demonstrating the strategic maturity that has defined her season.

On Court 5, junior Parkins-Godwin rebounded from a frustrating first-set tiebreak loss with authority, dominating the second set 6-2 by targeting open spaces and forcing defensive errors.

Three courts. Three third sets. Three chances to swing the match.

For Bruno, those moments represented both the promise and the pain of evenly matched competition.

"The margins are so slim," Bruno said. "I knew going in it was going to be a very evenly-matched team. Third sets are normal when you're playing evenly matched teams. You just got to keep with the winning tactics of what you're doing and keep your energy and mental toughness throughout those three sets — and that’s hard to do."

Parkins-Godwin carried the momentum from the second set, closing out the third set 6-4, cutting Dartmouth's lead to 3-2 and keeping MSU alive.

That momentum, however, did not last long.

On the deciding court, Grosjean answered by taking the second set in another tiebreak, 7-6, as well as the third set, in 6-3, clinching the match and sealing Dartmouth's 4-2 victory. 

"They just need to deal with it better when you're not playing well," Bruno said. "We all wake up different every single day. It's how you figure out ways to make a couple more balls, play a little smarter, a little more basic. You've got to be able to do that even when you’re not feeling it."

Dartmouth, to its credit, capitalized on those moments of vulnerability. From the opening serve to the final point, applied steady pressure and refused to let MSU settle.

"Our backs were against the wall, and we put ourselves in a position to win," Bruno said. "We just didn't get it done."

The Spartans now turn their focus to Big Ten Conference play, where they will face Ohio State on Feb. 28, in Columbus, Ohio.