Mississippi State
ITA Southern Region Indoor Championships
Lady Bulldogs Conclude Play In ITA Regionals
October 24, 2011 | Women's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Today concluded the Mississippi State Lady Bulldog tennis squad's play in the ITA Southern Regional Championships, as the three remaining MSU players all dropped Sunday matchups.
Newcomer Ekaterina Iakovleva made her way to the quarterfinals of the main draw, where she fell to the #27 nationally ranked and top-seeded Mary Anne Macfarlane of Alabama 6-4, 6-3. That setback came after the rookie posted three solid wins to reached the quarters in just her second event as a collegian. Coach Daryl Greenan was impressed by Iakovleva's play.
"Kate (Iakovleva) played at a high level all weekend," Greenan said. "She gave the highest ranked player in our region quite a scare today. She showed she could compete at a national level."
Sophomore Roseline Dion battled to the quarterfinals of the consolation draw, where she fell in a hard-fought battle Sunday against Auburn's Plamena Kurteva 6-3, 6-3.
Junior Olesya Tsigvintseva participated in a consolation match Sunday, in which she was edged by LSU's Olivia Howlett in a fierce three-set affair 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.
"It was a solid weekend for the team overall," Greenan added. "We played better that the week before and it is exciting to see that progress."
The team will be back in action next weekend (Oct. 28-30) as they travel to Los Angeles, Calif., for the Jack Kramer Club Invite.
SINGLES
MAIN DRAW - QUARTERFINALS
#27 Mary Anne Macfarlane (Alabama) def. Ekaterina Iakovleva (MSU) 6-4, 6-3
CONSOLATION - QUARTERFINALS
Plamena Kurteva (Auburn) def. Roseline Dion (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
CONSOLATION
Olivia Howlett (LSU) def. Olesya Tsigvintseva (MSU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
National rankings precede player names
