Mississippi State
Alabama
Alabama Rolls Past Lady Bulldogs In 5-2 Victory
April 09, 2010 | Women's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - It was too little too late for Mississippi State's 66th-ranked women's tennis team (9-10, 1-8 SEC) Friday afternoon, as Alabama (9-10, 2-7 SEC) was impressive in a 5-2 win over the Lady Bulldogs.
The 43rd meeting between the two schools started off in Alabama's favor. Two quick matches at the first and third positions quickly gave UA the doubles point. The State duo of Radka Ferancova and Danielle Terpko fell, 8-3, to the 20th-ranked Crimson Tide team of Alexa Guarachi and Courtney McLane, before Valeriya Makarycheva and Mariia Ryzhova dropped another 8-3 contest to the Crimson Tide tandem of Paulina Bigos and Meriit Emery. Meanwhile the match at court No.2 was suspended with the UA team of Antonia Foehse and Alice Tunaru holding a 6-4 advantage over State's Natalia Mayuk and Olesya Tsigivntseva.
In singles, Alabama extended its lead to 2-0 with Guarachi's victory at the second position. The 47th-ranked Guarachi ousted MSU's Ferancova 6-2, 6-1. That 2-0 advantage then quickly widened with Foehse's 6-1, 6-3 triumph over State's Ryzhova at the fourth court, putting the Crimson Tide one win away from claiming just its second Southeastern Conference victory of the season.
The Tide left no doubt, as the team picked up the elusive match-clinching win at the No. 6 position. There, Alabama netter Alice Tunaru defeated MSU' Terpko in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
With the match no longer in question, State did manage to pick up two more wins on the day. Mayuk was impressive in her 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 victory over Emery, while Makarycehva used a strong second set to oust Bigos, 7-5, 6-4.
Mississippi State now sets in sights on the Auburn Tigers, Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on the plains.
ALABAMA 5, #66 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - 4/9/10
DOUBLES
No. 1 - #20 Alexa Guarachi/Courtney McLane (UA) def. Radka Ferankova/Danielle Terpko (MSU) 8-3
No. 2 - Antonia Foehse/Alice Tunaru (UA) vs. Natalia Mayuk/Olesya Tsigivntseva (MSU) 6-4, susp.
No. 3 - Paulina Bigos/Meritt Emery (UA) def. Valeriya Makarycheva/Mariia Ryzhova (MSU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES
No. 1 - McLane (UA) def. Ferancova (MSU) 7-6, 6-2
No. 2 - #47 Guarachi (UA) def. Tsigivntseva (MSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 - Mayuk (MSU) def. Emery (UA) 6-4, 6-7, 1-0
No. 4 - Foehse (UA) def. Ryzhova (MSU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 - Makarycheva (MSU) def. Bigos (UA) 7-5, 6-4
No. 6 - Turnaru (UA) def. Terpko (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: (2, 4, 6, 5, 1, 3)
