Mississippi State
Alabama
MSU Netmen Fall To #21 Crimson Tide
March 07, 2008 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. - In cold and rainy conditions Friday afternoon, the Mississippi State men's tennis team dropped a 4-0 decision to 21st-ranked Alabama at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. With only singles being contested due to weather conditions, UA won the first four points to clinch the win. With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 4-5 this season while the Tide improved to 11-3.
Alabama took control of singles play early, winning the first set on all six courts. The Tide took a 1-0 lead when Sammy Struyf closed out Bulldog Chris Doerr 6-2, 6-2 on court #3. Bama extended its lead to 2-0 when UA's Matt Thibaudeau defeated State's 32nd-ranked Philippe Frayssinoux 6-3, 6-4 on court #2. The score went to 3-0 as UA's Javier Bes topped MSU freshman Antonio Lastre 6-3, 6-3 on court #5. The clinching point came on court #4 as Bama's Dan Buikema knocked off State's Ryan Farlow 6-4, 7-6(6). MSU senior Ivan Bjelica, ranked 26th, and Bama's 94th-ranked Saketh Myneni were notched at 2-6, 6-4 on court one while UA's Michael Jung led MSU's Tanner Stump 6-3, 2-5 on court six when play was suspended due to rain.
Since 1969, the Bulldogs still lead the Tide 25-22 in the series. MSU's loss to UA was their second straight in the series. MSU fell to 0-3 to start SEC play for the third consecutive season.
#21 Alabama 4, #49 Mississippi State 0
Starkville, Miss.-3/7/08
Singles-#26 Ivan Bjelica (MSU) vs. #94 Saketh Myneni (UA) 2-6, 6-4, susp.; Matt Thibaudeau (UA) def. #32 Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) 6-3, 6-4; Sammy Struyf (UA) def. Chris Doerr (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; Dan Buikema (UA) def. Ryan Farlow (MSU) 6-4, 7-6(6); Javier Bes (UA) def. Antonio Lastre (MSU) 6-3, 6-3; Tanner Stump (MSU) vs. Michael Jung (UA) UA led 6-4, 2-5, susp.
