Mississippi State
SEC Indoor Championships
Bjelica To Play For Singles Championship At SEC Indoor Championships
January 20, 2008 | Men's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Mississippi State senior Ivan Bjelica came one step closer to the singles championship at the SEC Indoors Sunday as he won his semifinals match in straight sets and advances to Monday's final. Bjelica, now 4-0 this spring, defeated Tennessee's 93rd-ranked John Patrick Smith 7-6(8), 6-4, and captured his third win over a ranked opponent in three days.
In Monday's final, Bjelica will face off with Georgia's Luis Flores, the tournament's fourth seed. Flores defeated teammate Nate Schnugg to solidify his spot in the final.
Bjelica becomes the first Bulldog to make an appearance in the final of the SEC Indoor Championship since former MSU All-American Simon Larose did so in 1998. Bjelica will also look to join former State All-Americans Daniel Courcol and Laurent Orsini as the only previous players to capture the tournament title in the A Draw. Bjelica ended last season ranked 41st nationally, but did not participate in the fall with MSU and was not ranked in the spring preseason poll.
Monday's match time is set for 10 a.m. CT at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans Hotel and Health Club.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
NEW ORLEANS, LA. - 1/20/08
A DRAW SINGLES
Semifinals-Ivan Bjelica (MSU) def. #93 John Patrick Smith (Tennessee) 7-6(8), 6-4.
B DRAW CONSOLATION (Late Saturday)
First Round-Johannes Pulsfort (South Carolina) def. Maximilien Genuini (MSU) 7-6(5), 6-4.
