The No. 44 Michigan State women’s tennis team is set to face off against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday and the No. 63 Golden Gophers of Minnesota on Sunday; both matches will be taking place in the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.

The Spartans are off to their best start in recent years (13-2, 2-0 in Big Ten) under seventh-year head coach, Simone Jardim, and are currently sitting at the 44th spot in the nation. This is their highest ITA ranking in school history on record; the previous high for the school was No. 52 in 2011.

“We have to keep working and progressing each day,” Jardim said. “I think we have to stay focused every day, even as tedious as it can get.”

MSU is 11-0 when facing unranked teams this season, and the team will look to make it 12 in a row with a win against unranked Wisconsin.

“The Big Ten, ranked or not ranked, everybody is tough every year,” Jardim said. “You have to be ready to compete every single time.”

Freshman standout, Lexi Baylis, has brought a spark to the team along with a 26-3 singles record and a 15-5 doubles record. Those 26 singles wins in a single season is already a new freshman record at Michigan State.

“It feels really good, but I was actually unaware of the record,” Baylis couldn’t help saying without a slight laugh.

“She is willing to do whatever it takes to win a tennis match,” Jardim said about Baylis. “She has that really competitive drive that you don’t teach a kid.”

Along with the Spartans’ young talent, Catherine Parenteau offers maturity and leadership as a senior. Catherine has also been the definition of ‘clutch’ with a 2-0 record when the match comes down to her.

“I think it’s because of all of my experience,” Parenteau said.  “I’ve been playing sports and competing all of my life.”