Mississippi State
UNLV
MSU Men's Tennis Battles Past UNLV 4-3
March 12, 2008 | Men's Tennis
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The 39th-ranked Mississippi State men's tennis team outlasted Nevada-Las Vegas Wednesday evening, winning a 4-3 decision at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on the UNLV campus. State improved to 6-5 on the season with the win.
"We did not play too well today," said MSU head coach Per Nilsson. "However, I was proud of the way our guys fought and we showed good effort. We have to continue to work hard and get better every time out."
The Bulldogs opened the match edging out the Rebels in a very tight doubles point. Bulldogs Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump edged UNLV's team of Bryan Miller and Andrew Giuffrida 8-6 on court #3. The Bulldogs would clinch the opening point of the match as MSU's duo of Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux edged Rebels Elliot Wronski and Wesley Burrows in a tiebreaker 9-8(6) on court #1. In the remaining match on court #2, MSU's Ryan Farlow and Pjotrs Necajevs fell 9-8(9) in a tiebreaker to UNLV's Luca Barlocchi and David Campbell.
MSU extended its lead to 2-0 when singles begin as Farlow was first off the courts. The junior handled UNLV's Miller 6-0, 6-3 on court #4 to give State the early edge. The gap was narrowed to 2-1 when the Rebel's Campbell ousted MSU sophomore Artem Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-3 on court #5. UNLV would even the match at two points a piece as Burrows rallied to knock off MSU's Doerr 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 at the #3 position. MSU would soon regain the edge as Frayssinoux closed out UNLV's Barlocchi 7-5, 6-4 on court #2 to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage. The Rebels once again rallied on court #1 as 93rd-ranked Wronski topped MSU's 26th-ranked Bjelica 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 to even the match and send the decision to the one remaining match on court #6. On court six, MSU freshman Lastre held on to defeat UNLV's Yeghnazary 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch his second straight win and the victory for State.
"Antonio did a great job out there today," said Nilsson. "He kept battling and came through for us when we needed him the most."
Frayssinoux, Farlow and Lastre all notched their second straight singles victories on Wednesday. Bjelica and Frayssinoux teamed to win their fifth doubles match in their last seven outings in clinching the doubles point for State at the #1 position. Doerr and Stump notched their third-straight victory on court #3 and have won four out of five this spring. The Bulldogs now lead UNLV 2-1 in the overall series as they avenged last year's defeat in Las Vegas.
MSU returns to action Saturday as they travel to Reno, Nev. to take on the University of Nevada. Match time is set for 3 p.m. CT.
#39 Mississippi State 4, UNLV 3
Las Vegas, Nev.-3/12/08
Doubles-Ivan Bjelica/Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) def. Elliot Wronski/Wesley Burrows (UNLV) 9-8(6); Luca Barlocchi/David Campbell (UNLV) def. Ryan Farlow/Pjotrs Necajevs (MSU) 9-8(9); Chris Doerr/Tanner Stump (MSU) def. Bryan Miller/Andrew Giuffrida (UNLV) 8-6
Singles-#93 Wronski (UNLV) def. #26 Bjelica (MSU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6; #32 Frayssinoux (MSU) def. Barlocchi (UNLV) 7-5, 6-4; Burrows (UNLV) def. Doerr (MSU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-0; Farlow (MSU) def. Miller (UNLV) 6-0, 6-3; Campbell (UNLV) def. Artem Kuznetsov (MSU) 6-4, 6-3; Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Rony Yeghnazary (UNLV) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Players Mentioned
