MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston women's tennis team improved to 10-4 on the season splitting its spring-break doubleheader with Michigan State and Illinois State on Thursday at the CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point.

In came down to the doubles point in both matches as the Cougars dropped a close 4-3 decision to the Spartans (8-3). CofC won three of the six singles lines behind senior Katherine Schofield's straight-set victory over Michigan State's Davina Nguyen at the top of the order, 6-4, 7-5.

With the match already decided, junior Mara Argyriou and sophomore Helena Nyikos still claimed victories at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions. Argyriou won a second-set tiebreaker over Aslina Chua, 6-4, 7-6 (1), while sophomore Helena Nyikos topped Athena Trouillot in a three-setter, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

In the second match of the twin bill, Charleston claimed the doubles point winning two-of-three at the No. 1 and No. 2 lines. Argyriou and Nyikos later finished one-two with straight-set victories at the No. 3 and No. 4 lines to go an undefeated 2-0 on the day in singles.

The Redbirds (8-5) would get on the board, 3-1, as Catherine Shulman defeated CofC's Diana Colen, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 6 singles. Sophomore Sarah Jane Jones clinched the match for the Cougars with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Valerija Gercar at the No. 5 position. Both No. 1 and No. 2 singles went to third-set tiebreakers as Illinois State won its third point of the match and proved the doubles point crucial earlier in the 4-3 victory in favor of the home team.

“We had two very tough matches today,” CofC Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. “A lot of credit to Michigan State. They are an indoor team and came out here and played well in hot conditions. They really responded, were extra tough and matched us from an endurance standpoint. The difference was the doubles point. They jumped on us pretty good early.

“The difference in the second match against a talented-Illinois State team was the doubles point again. It gave us just enough points to win that match. We were certainly tired after the Michigan State match and played very well against Illinois State. Our No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches went into third-set tiebreakers, so securing the doubles point was crucial for us.”

The Cougars will continue their homestand with CAA member Towson on Monday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. (ET) at the CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point. Live scoring will be available at: www.CofCStats.com.

Michigan State 4, Col. of Charleston 3

SINGLES

1. Erin Faulkner (MSU) def. Liza Fieldsend (COFCW), 7-6 (6), 6-4.

2. Katherine Schofield (COFCW) def. Davina Nguyen (MSU), 6-4, 7-5.

3. Emily Metcalf (MSU) def. Brooke McAmis (COFCW), 7-5, 6-4.

4. Mara Argyriou (COFCW) def. Aslina Chua (MSU), 6-4, 7-6 (1).

5. Helena Nyikos (COFCW) def. Athena Trouillot (MSU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

6. Emily Meyers (MSU) def. Sarah Jane Jones (COFCW), 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES

1. Mara Argyriou/Katherine Schofield (COFCW) vs. Allie Baer/Erin Faulkner (MSU), 4-5, DNF.

2. Emily Metcalf/Emily Meyers (MSU) def. Liza Fieldsend/Brooke McAmis (COFCW), 6-1.

3. Davina Nguyen/Athena Trouillot (MSU) def. Sarah Jane Jones/Sarah Zschunke (COFCW), 6-3.

ORDER OF FINISH: Doubles (2,3), Singles (6,2,1,3*,5,4)

Col. of Charleston 4, Illinois State 3

SINGLES

1. Veronika Golanova (ILS) def. Liza Fieldsend (COFCW), 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (8).

2. Marcia Tere-Apisah (ILS) def. Katherine Schofield (COFCW) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 1-0 (3).

3. Mara Argyriou (COFCW) def. Jana Kustkova (ILS), 6-0, 6-2.

4. Helena Nyikos (COFCW) def. Kadi Ilves (ILS), 6-3, 6-4.

5. Sarah Jane Jones (COFCW) def. Valerija Gercar (ILS), 6-2, 6-2.

6. Catherine Shulman (ILS) def. Diana Colen (COFCW), 6-4, 6-4.

DOUBLES

1. Mara Argyriou/Katherine Schofield (COFCW) def. Marcia Tere-Apisah/Kadi Ilves (ILS), 6-2.

2. Liza Fieldsend/Helena Nyikos (COFCW) def. Veronika Golanova/Jana Kustkova (ILS), 7-6 (5).

3. Sarah Paulson/Catherine Shulman (ILS) def. Sarah Jane Jones/Diana Colen (COFCW), 6-4.

ORDER OF FINISH: Doubles (1,3,2), Singles (3,4,6,5*,1,2)