Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Bulldogs Fall In Close 4-3 Decision To #7 Rebels
April 12, 2008 | Men's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - The Mississippi State men's tennis team made a valiant effort in an upset bid at #7 Mississippi Saturday afternoon, but eventually fell 4-3 in the final regular season match for both teams. The Bulldogs fell to 8-11 overall and 2-9 in Southeastern Conference play.
State fell behind early to the Rebels, (18-4, 9-2 SEC) dropping the doubles point. First off the courts was UM's doubles team of Jakob Klaeson and Tucker Vorster as they topped MSU's pair of Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump 8-2 on court #3. The Rebel pair of Matthias Wellermann and Robbye Poole clinched the point with an 8-6 victory over MSU's Ryan Farlow and Pjotrs Necajevs at the #2 position. At the #1 spot, State's team of Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux dropped an 8-6 decision to Jonas Berg and Erling Tveit.
UM would extend its lead early when singles began. The Rebels took a 2-0 lead as UM's Berg defeated MSU's Farlow 6-4, 6-0 on court #3. On court #5, Mississippi's Klaeson topped MSU's Artem Kuznetsov 6-2, 6-4 to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead.
From that point, the match would tighten significantly. Three of the remaining four matches would be decided in the third set. On court #4, MSU's Doerr fell 6-1 in the first set to UM's Norberg. Despite a two-break lead in the second set, Doerr would ultimately fall in a second set tiebreaker 7-6(5) to Norberg giving the clinching point to UM.
MSU would respond, winning the remaining three matches on court. The first point for State came from freshman Antonio Lastre as he downed UM's Vorster 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 on court #6. MSU's 57th-ranked Frayssinoux followed by defeating UM's 46th-ranked Poole 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 on court #2. On court #1, State's 26th-ranked Bjelica rallied to defeat 30th-ranked Tveit 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(3) in a supertiebreaker.
With his win on court #1, Bjelica won his fourth straight, all coming against ranked opponents. Frayssinoux won his second straight and notched a career best for wins in a season with 24. Lastre snapped a three-match losing skid with his win on court 6. With the loss, State dropped its 21st straight to UM.
MSU will next travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the SEC Championships. First round action will get underway Thursday, April 17.
#7 Mississippi 4, #55 Mississippi State 3
OXFORD, Miss.-4/12/08
Doubles-#5 Jonas Berg/Erling Tveit (UM) def. Ivan Bjelica/Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) 8-6; Matthias Wellermann/Robbye Poole (UM) def. Ryan Farlow/Pjotrs Necajevs (MSU) 8-6; Jakob Klaeson/Tucker Vorster (UM) def. Chris Doerr/Tanner Stump (MSU) 8-2.
Singles-#26 Bjelica (MSU) def. #30 Tveit (UM) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(3); #57 Frayssinoux (MSU) def. #46 Poole (UM) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5; Berg (UM) def. Farlow (MSU) 6-4, 6-0; Kalle Norberg (UM) def. Doerr (MSU) 6-1, 7-6(5); Klaeson (UM) def. Artem Kuznetsov (MSU) 6-2, 6-4; Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Vorster (UM) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Players Mentioned
