Mississippi State
Nebraska
Mississippi State Blanks Visiting Nebraska In Men's Tennis Action
March 23, 2011 | Men's Tennis
"It was a great win for our guys," Coach Per Nilsson said. "We've been improving with each match and the results are evidence of that. I liked the way the guys played today and they fed off the crowd and we need that again on Saturday against a tough Florida team."
State has now won 81 of its last 86 non-SEC home matches and it was the first time since 2001 that an MSU men's tennis squad has defeated four different opponents, 7-0.
For the fifth time this season State clinched the match-opening doubles point which is proven vital for the Bulldogs as the Maroon and White is now a perfect 5-0 when winning doubles. MSU not only won doubles but swept the doubles point on all three courts with the first victory coming on court two where State's James Chaudry and George Coupland easily took down Sebastian Florczyk and Andre Stenger, 8-2. It was Chaudry and Coupland's second dual match win as a tandem and snapped a two-match losing skid for the duo. Bulldogs Artem Ilyushin and Zach White clinched the doubles point for MSU and claimed their fourth-straight match with an 8-5 takedown over Calin Paar and Robert Schulze of Nebraska at the No. 3 position. Completing the sweep for the Maroon and White at the No. 1 spot was MSU's 69th-ranked tandem Louis Cant and Malte Stropp who upset Nebraska's 65th-ranked team of Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim, 8-7(3).
Much like its previous four matches MSU came out strong in singles and claimed opening sets on all six courts. Extending State's lead to 2-0 was White by defeating Schulze of the Cornhuskers, 6-2, 6-0, and winning his fourth-straight match. Also winning his fourth-straight match was No. 92 nationally ranked Cant at the No. 5 slot. Cant defeated Eric Sock of Nebraska, 6-1, 6-0, to help MSU take a 3-0 lead.
For the second time this season and the fifth time in his career 84th-ranked Ilyushin clinched the match for the Maroon and White, this time from his play at the No. 1 position. Ilyushin handed Paar of Nebraska a, 6-2, 6-3, defeat and earned his 30th career dual match victory in the process.
Extending the Bulldog lead to 5-0 shortly after was No. 85 nationally ranked Coupland of MSU. Coupland won, 6-2, 6-3, over Lindheim of the Huskers. It was the third-straight dual match win for Coupland. Bulldog Chaudry improved to a stellar 9-1 in dual match play by taking down Nebraska's Tom Blackwell at the No. 3 spot, 6-1, 6-3. Completing the domination for the Maroon and White was Stropp, who came from behind after trailing early in the opening set to defeat fellow countryman Florczyk, 7-5, 6-2. Stropp has also now won four-straight matches.
The Bulldogs, who are 4-1 and currently lead the SEC western division, will quickly turn its focus to the No. 19 nationally ranked Florida Gators who come to town on Saturday. The Bulldogs and Gators will serve it up at 1 p.m. CT at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre where admission is free to all home MSU matches and live stats will be available at www.mstateathletics.com.
#31 Mississippi State 7, #41 Nebraska 0
Starkville, Miss. - 3/23/11
DOUBLES
No. 1 - #69 Louis Cant/Malte Stropp (MSU) def. #65 Christopher Aumueller/Benedikt Lindheim (NEB) 8-7(3); No. 2 - James Chaudry/George Coupland (MSU) def. Sebastian Florczyk/Andre Stenger (NEB) 8-2; No. 3 - Artem Ilyushin/Zach White (MSU) def. Calin Paar/Robert Schulze (NEB) 8-5; (Order of Finish: 2,3,1).
SINGLES
No. 1 - #84 Ilyushin (MSU) def. Paar (NEB) 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 - #85 Coupland (MSU) def. Lindheim (NEB) 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 - Chaudry (MSU) def. Tom Blackwell (NEB) 6-1, 6-3; No. 4 - Stropp (MSU) def. Florczyk (NEB) 7-5, 6-2; No. 5 - #92 Cant (MSU) def. Eric Sock (NEB) 6-1, 6-0; No. 6 - White (MSU) def. Schulze (NEB) 6-2, 6-0; (Order of Finish: 6,5,1,2,3,4).
Players Mentioned
