Mississippi State
Southern Intercollegiate Championships
State Tennis Completes Second Day Action At Southern Intercollegiate
September 25, 2010 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. - Tanner Stump, a senior from Bradenton, Fla., and true freshman Zach White claimed victories for the Mississippi State men's tennis team in day two of the Southern Intercollegiate Championship in Athens, Ga.
Stump defeated John Taylor of Memphis in the first consolation match of the Division II draw in singles. Stump claimed the opening set, 7-5, dropped a 5-7 decision in the second set and won easily in a super tiebreaker, 10-1, to win the third set and the match. Stump advances in consolation play which will resume on Sunday, Sept. 26.
White defeated No. 108 nationally ranked Cesare Gallo of Stetson in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(5), for his first collegiate victory. In his round of 16 match White dropped a hard fought battle to the 53rd ranked Wael Kilani of South Florida, 6-2, 7-6(5). White was down 3-1 in the second set to Kilani but battled back and had several shots at redemption before the match ended.
True freshman Malte Stropp slipped up in a straight-set match to Juan Pir of Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-1, in the second round of the Division I draw in singles. In Division II singles draw, junior Hrehan Hakeem lost a close three-set bout in the third round to Juan Carlos-Acuna, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6).
In doubles action for the Maroon and White, the Bulldog tandem of Hakeem and Stump slipped up, 8-3, to LSU's Jordan Girdley and David Roberts in the second round of the Division II doubles draw.
"The fall is a progression period where we're looking to improve and work with the players," Coach Per Nilsson said. "We saw some really good things and we need to improve. It was great to play some real matches in this tournament."
The Bulldogs will conclude tournament action on Sunday, Sept. 26. Results will be made available at www.mstateathletics.com.
SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Athens, Ga. - 9/25/10
DIVISION I - SINGLES
Second Round - Zach White (MSU) def. #108 Cesare Gallo (Stetson) 6-4, 7-6(3); Juan Pir (Georgia Tech) def. Malte Stropp (MSU) 6-3, 6-1.
Round of 16 - #53 Wael Kilani (South Florida) def. White (MSU) 6-2, 7-6(5).
DIVISION II - SINGLES
Third Round - Juan Carlos-Acuna (South Florida) def. Hrehan Hakeem (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5).
DIVISION II CONSOLATION - SINGLES
First Round - Tanner Stump (MSU) def. John Taylor (Memphis) 7-5, 5-7, 1-0(1).
DIVISION II - DOUBLES
Second Round - Jordan Girdley/David Roberts (LSU) def. Hakeem/Stump (MSU) 8-3.
