Mississippi State
Wildcat Invitational
Bulldog Tennis Opens Wildcat Invitational With Impressive Day
October 04, 2014 | Women's Tennis
TUCSON, Ariz. – In the third tournament of the 2014 fall campaign, the Mississippi State women's tennis team got off to a hot start on the first day of the Wildcat Invitational Friday, going a combined 11-2 in singles and doubles action.
In Flight 1 doubles to start the day, the MSU freshman duo of Alex Corder and Louise Ronaldson defeated Colorado State's Natalie Heffron and Adriana Wojakowska, 8-5, while the tandem of Jennifer Brown and Timea Guibe took an 8-3 decision over Texas State's Shannon Beckett and Eva Dench. Senior Naomi Tran played a split doubles match with New Mexico's Sharon Coone in Flight 2, with those players taking an 8-3 win over Livia Hollsy and Mieke Vorschel of Northern Arizona.
State continued its dominance into the first round of singles by sweeping all five of its opponents. In Flight 1, the rookie Ronaldson took a 6-3, 6-0 decision over Texas State's Monica Pieratt, while Brown defeated CSU's Heffron, 7-6, 6-0. In Flight 2, Bulldog Guibe earned her first singles win of the fall with a victory over CSU's Mollie Cooper 6-0, 6-1. Also in Flight 2, Tran defeated TSU's Katy Collins in a three-set battle, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. MSU's Corder also picked up a win in Flight 3 over UTEP's Matilda Tench, 6-0, 6-1.
Three of those five players then advanced to the semifinals of their respective draws with wins in the quarters, including two newcomers in Flight 1. Ronaldson took a tight 6-3, 7-6 decision from Shayne Austin of host Arizona there, while Brown ousted Davina Meza of UTEP 6-1, 6-3. In Flight 3, Corder defeated Arizona's Devin Chypyha, 6-4, 6-2 to move on to the final four of that draw.
In the other quarterfinals, both in Flight 2, the Bulldogs suffered tough three-set losses in each. Guibe fell to Arizona's Hanna Sohn, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (4) in a very close affair, while Tran was held off 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 by Rachana Batt of New Mexico.
“We had a great day today,” said coach Daryl Greenan. “I am impressed with the way we are competing. We collected a lot of wins in both singles and doubles, which provides a great boost in the confidence of our young team.”
The Bulldogs will resume action Saturday, with three Bulldogs in the semifinals of singles and players involved in three doubles quarterfinals as well.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateWT.
Wildcat Invitational – Oct. 3, 2014
El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort - Tucson, Ariz.
Doubles
Flight 1 - Alex Corder/Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. Natalie Heffron/Adriana Wojakowska (CSU), 8-5; Jennifer Brown/Timea Guibe (MSU) def. Shannon Beckett/Eva Dench (TSU), 8-3.
Flight 2 - Naomi Tran (MSU)/Sharon Coone (UNM) def. Shannon Beckett/Eva Dench (TSU), 8-3.
Singles – First Round
Flight 1 - Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. Monica Pieratt (TSU), 6-4, 6-0; Jennifer Brown (MSU) def. Natalie Heffron (CSU), 7-6 (3), 6-0.
Flight 2 - Timea Guibe (MSU) def. Mollie Cooper (CSU), 6-0, 6-1; Naomi Tran (MSU) def. Katy Collins (TSU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Flight 3 - Alex Corder (MSU) def. Matilda Tench (UTEP), 6-0, 6-2.
Singles - Quarterfinals
Flight 1 - Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. Shayne Austin (UA), 6-3, 7-6 (3); Jennifer Brown (MSU) def. Davina Meza (UTEP), 6-4, 6-2.
Flight 2 - Hanna Sohn (UA) def. Timea Guibe (MSU), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (4); Rachana Batt (UNM) def. Naomi Tran (MSU), 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Flight 3 - Alex Corder (MSU) def. Devin Chypyha (UA), 6-4, 6-2.
