State Lady Netters Drop 6-1 Decision To South Carolina

Friday, March 27

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

South Carolina

State Lady Netters Drop 6-1 Decision To South Carolina

March 27, 2009 | Women's Tennis

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State's women's tennis team (9-4, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) fell 6-1 to 40th-ranked South Carolina (9-7, 2-3) Friday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

In doubles, State's freshman duo of Natalia Mayuk and Olesya Tsigvintseva jumped to a quick 4-0 lead at court No. 2, but the Lady Bulldogs were unable to build much momentum at the other two positions, where they ultimately fell. MSU's Martina Banikova and Elna de Villiers dropped an 8-4 affair at position No. 1, while the State pair of Radka Ferancova and Daniela Juskova fell by the same score on court 3.

Down 1-0, State headed to singles looking to rebound and win the match. MSU fought hard, but was unable to take much away from the talented South Carolina squad, as the Gamecocks took wins at five positions to take the victory.

Giving USC a 2-0 lead was Natasa Vukovic, who downed MSU's de Villiers 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 4 spot. That was followed by a 6-1, 6-3 victory from Miki Jocic, who bested State's Mayuk at No. 5.

State's Juskova then secured MSU's lone point of the afternoon, impressive in her match with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Ashley Miller of USC at the No. 6 spot.

South Carolina then claimed wins at the top three spots to complete scoring for the day. At No. 2, 41st-ranked Ana Zubori won 6-2, 6-2 over the Lady Bulldogs' Banikova. MSU's Tsigvintseva fell at the top spot 6-1, 6-1 to USC's 34th-ranked Gira Schofield. At No. 3, State's Ferancova split sets with Dijana Stojic before eventually falling 6-0, 5-7, 1-0(2).

“I am extremely proud of how hard we are fighting,” said head coach Tracy Lane. “We have to step it up though. We are good enough to win these matches, but we have to step it up.”

Next up, Mississippi State travels to Florida to take on the 14th-ranked Gators Sunday afternoon. Match time is slated for Noon CT.

#40 South Carolina 6, #61 Mississippi State 1

March 27, 2009 ? A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre

DOUBLES ? #75 Natasa Vuckovic/Ana Zubori (USC) def. Martina Banikova/Elna de Villiers (MSU) 8-4; Natalia Mayuk/Olesya Tsigvintseva (MSU) vs. Gira Schofield/Miki Jocic (USC) 6-4 susp.; Dijana Stojic/Suzie Mansour (USC) def. Radka Ferancova/Daniela Juskova (MSU) 8-4

SINGLES ? #34 Schofield (USC) def. Tsigvintseva (MSU) 6-1, 6-1; #41 Zubori (USC) def. Banikova (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; Stojic (USC) def. Ferancova (MSU) 6-0, 5-7, 1-0(2); Vuckovic (USC) def. De Villiers (MSU) 6-1, 6-1; Jocic (USC) def. Mayuk (MSU) 6-1, 6-3; Daniela Juskova (MSU) def. Ashley Miller (USC) 7-5, 6-2

Order of finish... Doubles (1,3) Singles (4, 5, 6, 2, 1, 3)