Mississippi State
North Carolina
No. 20 Bulldogs Fall In NCAA Second Round At No. 13 North Carolina
May 10, 2015 | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Heart, grit and determination were the themes of the 2015 season for Mississippi State. On Saturday, the No. 20 Bulldogs (20-8) stayed true to those, leaving it all out on the court despite falling 4-1 to No. 13 North Carolina (23-10) in the NCAA Championship Second Round.
In front of a UNC home crowd in Chapel Hill, MSU attempted to rally back after falling down 2-0, but were only able to come within a point thanks to Mate Cutura, with UNC taking wins on courts five, one and six to clinch their trip to the NCAA round of 16.
Despite the loss, MSU ended with an impressive 2015 season under first-year head coach Matt Roberts. State finished with 20 wins for only the eighth time in school history, tying for sixth all-time in school history for the most wins in a single-season. State tied for most SEC shutouts in a season with three, which they last did in 1993.
“That was a tough match, but as I have said time and time again, I cannot be more proud of this group of guys,” Roberts said. “We have had a lot of challenges and I have learned so much in my first year as a head coach, but there's no understating how much these guys accomplished. Despite the loss, this year has been one these guys should be very proud of.”
MSU's second round showdown Saturday started with a heated doubles battle, much like Friday's. Despite going down a break early on three, MSU and UNC battled back and forth on courts one and two. On two, Cutura and Tassilo Schmid seemed to grab the momentum with a break to go up 5-4, but UNC answered back quickly.
Down 7-6 on both top courts, State was unable to hold, as the Tar Heels broke on both to capture the opening point. UNC's Esben Hess-Olesen and Brayden Schnur defeated MSU's No. 6 team of Lakat and Julian Cash, 8-6. Carolina's No. 45 duo Brett Clark and Robert Kelly clinched the point with an 8-6 victory against State's Cutura and Schmid on two.
Play on three was suspended with UNC's Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider leading Estevarena and Robin Haden 7-5.
State looked to respond in singles play, but found it a tough task, as UNC took five of the six first sets. Carolina upped its lead to 2-0 thanks to a 6-2, 6-1 victory from Kelly against State's Schmid on five.
MSU would respond behind the dominating play of Cutura, who secured his 20th win of the year on Saturday. Jumping out early and never looking back, Cutura defeated No. 73 Clark 6-2, 6-2 for his fourth ranked win of the year, bringing MSU within one.
However, the Tar Heels would not let MSU get any closer. No. 11 Schnur fought off a number of break chances to down the Bulldogs' No. 62 Lakat 6-3, 6-4 on court one. The clincher would come on court six, as Hess-Olesen defeated MSU's Cash 7-5, 6-2.
Play was suspended on two and four at the clinch. MSU's Estevarena was fighting back hard after dropping the first set, down 6-4, 3-4 to UNC's No. 28 Schneider. State's Agarwal was down 7-5, 3-1 to Carolina's Murray on four.
In 2015, MSU also defeated the likes of No. 6 Georgia, No. 13 Ole Miss and downed No. 17 Florida to advance to the semifinals of the SEC Championship for the first time since 2012. MSU also placed third in the conference, the highest finish since 2012.
Individually, four Bulldogs earned All-SEC honors, which tied with SEC co-champions Georgia and Texas A&M. Florian Lakat landed on the All-SEC First Team, while Cutura, Rishab Agarwal and Juan Cruz Estevarena were All-SEC Second Team.
The loss on Saturday proved to be a small blemish on what has been an impressive first year for Roberts, who led MSU to its fifth-straight NCAA Championship appearance and 24th in school history. State also advanced past the opening round for the fifth-straight year and improved to 16-4 in such matches.
Next up for the Bulldogs is the 2015 NCAA Individual Championships in Waco, Texas, May 20-25. State will be represented by the No. 6 duo of Cash and Lakat, who became the 22nd and 23rd ITA All-Americans in school history with their national seed selection into the doubles field of 32. Lakat was also selected into the singles draw as the fourth alternate. Draws will be released following the conclusion of the NCAA Team Championship on May 19.
For more information on Mississippi State men's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateMT.
No. 13 North Carolina 4, No. 20 Mississippi State 1
2015 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship – Second Round
May 8, 2015 – Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center – Chapel Hill, N.C.
Doubles
1. Esben Hess-Olesen/Brayden Schnur (UNC) def. No. 6 Julian Cash/Florian Lakat (MSU) 8-6
2. No. 45 Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (UNC) def. Mate Cutura/Tassilo Schmid (MSU) 8-6
3. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC) vs. Juan Cruz Estevarena/Robin Haden (MSU) 7-5(susp.)
Singles
1. No. 11 Schnur (UNC) def. No. 62 Lakat (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. No. 28 Schneider (UNC) def. Estevarena (MSU) 6-4, 3-4(susp.)
3. Cutura (MSU) def. No. 73 Clark (UNC) 6-2, 6-2
4. Murray (UNC) vs. Rishab Agarwal (MSU) 7-5, 3-1(susp.)
5. Kelly (UNC) def. Schmid (MSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Hess-Olesen (UNC) def. Cash (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
Order of finish… Doubles (1,2)… Singles (5,3,1,6)
Players Mentioned
