Mississippi State
Florida Invitational
Bulldogs Enjoy Another Successful Day At Gator Invite
September 26, 2009 | Men's Tennis
Junior Antonio Lastre and sophomore newcomer Hrehan Hakeem continued their dominant performance from day one of the Gator Invitational, sweeping the competition in their singles and doubles matches. In singles, Lastre took down Daniel Cash of Florida in identical sets, 6-1, 6-1. Hakeem managed a win over South Florida's Yannick Yoshizawa, blanking him in the first set 6-0, then a 6-4 take down in set two. MSU's 83rd-ranked sophomore Artem Ilyushin took down his first ranked opponent of the season, defeating Antoine Benneteau, who stands 107th nationally, in a two-set bout, 6-1, 6-3. Bulldogs' sophomore Louis Cant picked up his second win of the fall season, with a 6-3, 6-2, handling over William Federhofer of Florida. Also picking up his first win of the fall for the Maroon and White was junior Tanner Stump who conjured up a two-set victory over South Florida's Alex Pukal, 6-0, 6-2. MSU's 109th-ranked sophomore George Coupland slipped up to nationally-ranked No. 23 Alex Lacroix of the hosting-Gators, 6-2, 6-1. MState's sophomore Daniel Sanchez fell in straight sets to Florida's Erik Corace and sophomore Max Gregor Smith of State went down against Juan Accuna of South Florida, 5-7, 7-5, 1-0(5).
In doubles play, Bulldog tandem of Cant and Ilyushin took down the Florida duo, Cash and Johnny Hamui, 6-3. Advancing to 2-0 in the fall in doubles, MSU's Hakeem and Lastre took down Florida's Corace and Federhofer, 6-3. The South Florida duo of Accuna and Jamal Adderly handed a loss to MSU's team of Smith and Stump, 7-5. Bulldog tandem of Coupland and Sanchez slipped up against the Gators' Bennetau and Lacroix, 6-1.
"We wanted to improve from yesterday, especially in doubles," said head coach Per Nilsson. "We did that and I thought we had some good spots in singles as well."
MSU will resume action Sunday for the final day of the event at 8 a.m. CT.
GATOR INVITATIONAL
Gainesville, Fla. - 9/26/09
SINGLES
#83 Artem Ilyushin (MSU) def. #107 Antoine Benneteau (Florida) 6-1, 6-3; Louis Cant (MSU) def. William Federhofer (Florida) 6-3, 6-2; Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Daniel Cash (Florida) 6-1, 6-1; Hrehan Hakeem (MSU) def. Yannick Yoshizawa (South Florida) 6-0, 6-4; Tanner Stump (MSU) def. Alex Pukal (South Florida) 6-0, 6-2; #23 Alex Lacroix (Florida) def. #109 George Coupland (MSU) 6-2, 6-1; Erik Corace (Florida) def. Daniel Sanchez (MSU) 6-1, 6-4 Juan Accuna (South Florida) def. Max Gregor Smith (MSU) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0(5).
DOUBLES
Cant/Ilyushin (MSU) def. Cash/Johnny Hamui (Florida) 6-3; Hakeem/Lastre (MSU) def. Corace/Federhofer (Florida) 6-3; Accuna/Jamal Adderly (South Florida) def. Smith/Stump (MSU) 7-5; Benneteau/Lacroix (Florida) def. Coupland/Sanchez (MSU) 6-1.
