Mississippi State
SEC Indoor Championships
Three Bulldogs, One Doubles Team Advance On First Day At SEC Indoors
January 18, 2008 | Men's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Three Bulldog netmen and one State doubles team advanced to the second round with wins on the first day of action Friday at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel and Health Club in New Orleans, La.
In A Draw singles, MSU senior Ivan Bjelica and junior Ryan Farlow both knocked off ranked opponents to advance. Farlow, a native of Madison, Miss., notched the best win of his career as he defeated Florida's 62nd-ranked Nestor Briceno 7-5, 6-2. With the win, Farlow moved to 10-6 in singles this season and advances to face Georgia's 17th-ranked Nate Schnugg Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Round of 16. Bjelica, playing in his first action this season for the Maroon and White, topped 98th-ranked Colt Gatson of LSU 7-6(3), 6-1. Bjelica moves into the final 16 where he will face Georgia's fourth-ranked Travis Helgeson in a match slated to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Bulldog sophomore Chris Doerr won his opening match Friday in B Draw singles, defeating Georgia's Josh Varela 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Hailing from London, England, Doerr will receive a bye in the Round of 16 and will advance to the quarterfinals.
Also advancing Friday was the doubles team of Farlow and Pjotrs Necajevs. The duo downed Briceno and Alex Lacroix of Florida 8-2 in the first round and advance to Saturday's second round to face Jamie Hunt and Schnugg of Georgia.
Four Bulldogs fell in first-round singles action on Friday while three doubles teams were downed. In Draw A singles, MSU Sophomore Pjotrs Necajevs dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Michael Venus of LSU. In B Draw singles, Maximilen Genuini fell 6-0, 7-5 to Mississippi's Jakob Klaesson while State freshman Antonio Lastre lost a 7-5, 6-0 match to Florida's Johnny Hamui. Bulldog freshman Tanner stump also fell, dropping a 7-5, 7-5 decision to UF"s Erik Corace. All four Bulldogs will continue play Saturday in a consolation draw that will begin after doubles.
In other doubles play, Doerr and Genuini fell 8-4 to Jeff Dadamo and Tyler Hochwalt of Florida. The Bulldog senior duo of Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux fell in a close 9-8(4) match to Javier Garrapiz and Christian Vitulli of Georgia while State's team of Lastre and Stump fell 8-3 to Alabama's Andrew Felsenthal and Houssam Yassine.
Main draw singles and doubles action will continue Saturday and Sunday and will conclude with the championships on Sunday.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
NEW ORLEANS, LA. - 1/18/08
A DRAW SINGLES
First Round- Ivan Bjelica (MSU) def. #98 Colt Gaston (LSU) 7-6(3), 6-1; Ryan Farlow (MSU) def. #62 Nestor Briceno (Florida) 7-5, 6-2; Michael Venus (LSU) def. Pjotrs Necajevs (MSU) 6-2, 6-1.
B DRAW SINGLES
First Round-Jakob Klaeson (UM) def. Maximilien Genuini (MSU) 6-0, 7-5; Chris Doerr (MSU) def. Josh Varela (UGA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Johnny Hamui (Florida) def. Antonio Lastre (MSU), 7-5, 6-0; Erik Corace (Florida) def. Tanner Stump (MSU), 7-5, 7-5
DOUBLES DRAW
First Round-Farlow/Necajevs (MSU) def. Briceno/Lacroix (Florida) 8-2; Dadamo/Hochwalt (Florida) def. Doerr/Genuini (MSU) 8-4; Garrapiz/Vitulli (Georgia) def. Bjelica/Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) 9-8(4); Felsenthal/Yassine (Alabama) def. Lastre/Stump (MSU) 8-3.
