Mississippi State
East Tennessee State
State Lady Netters Keep Undefeated Record Intact; Down ETSU 4-1
February 28, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Playing singles first, after starting the match outdoors at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre, MSU jumped out to an early lead on courts No. 3 and 6. Junior Valeriya Makarycheva picked up a quick 6-0 first set win at the sixth position, while Radka Ferancova took an early 3-0 lead at court No. 3. Meanwhile, freshman Natalia Mayuk built a 6-1 first set victory at position No. 5. With state holding leads on three courts, play was once again delayed due to rain.
After a 50-minute delay, the teams then moved indoors to the two-court McCarthy Gymnasium. The teams started with the No. 5 and 6 positions, where State had already won the first set. Mayuk came out strong to take a dominating 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 5 over Karina Kedzo. Makarycheva lost the first game of her second set, before rebounding to take the next six for a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over the Buccaneers' Tara Sheets at No. 6.
With a 2-0 lead, MSU turned to senior Martina Banikova at position No. 1. Banikova took the court trailing her counterpart from ETSU 3-2. Meanwhile, playing alongside Banikova, freshman Olesya Tsigvintseva took the court also trailing in the first set 4-2. The two failed to pick up the first set, as Banikova fell in a close 7-5 battle and Mayuk dropped a 6-4 decision.
Banikova lost the second, dropping a 7-5, 6-0 decision to 74th-ranked Yevgeniya Stupak of ETSU for the Buccaneers' only point of the day. Tsigvintseva, however, rallied to come back and win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 over ETSU's Tara Byrne at the No. 2 spot for a 3-1 MSU advantage in the contest.
State's Ferancova then clinched the match with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 triumph at the No. 3 position over Buccaneer Vita Moskaliova.
The final match of the day between State's Elna de Villiers and Paula Jaime was suspended in the first set, with de Villiers leading 4-3.
“I am so proud of our girls today,” said head coach
The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action next weekend, starting the Southeastern Conference schedule Friday, March 6, at
#65
Feb. 28, 2009 ? A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre
SINGLES ? Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) def. Martina Banikova (MSU) 7-5, 6-0; Olesya Tsigvintseva (MSU) def. Tara Byrne (ETSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Radka Ferancova (MSU) def. Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) 6-3, 6-2; Elna de Villiers (MSU) vs. Paula Jaime (ETSU) 4-3, susp.; Natalia Mayuk (MSU) def. Karina Kedzo (ETSU) 6-0, 6-1; Valeriya Makarycheva (MSU) def. Tara Sheets (ETSU) 6-0, 6-1.
DOUBLES ? Not contested.
