Mississippi State
North Carolina
MSU Caps Stellar Postseason Run After Hard-Fought Match Against UNC
May 21, 2016 | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. – After an incredible postseason run that led to the program's 12th NCAA Championship Round of 16 appearance, the 21st-ranked Mississippi State men's tennis team (18-9) fell to the second-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (28-4) on Friday in front of a packed Michael Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla.
The 4-0 win for UNC moved the Tar Heels to Sunday's quarterfinal round. MSU's loss ended the Bulldogs best postseason run since 2013's Round of 16 appearance in Champaign, Ill.
“I'm very proud of the way our guys handled themselves today and throughout this season,” head coach Matt Roberts said. “We had a special year and did some unbelievable things. I couldn't be happier of a team than I am of this one. The character they exude and their passion for competing is second to none.”
Action began with a back and forth affair in doubles play as the Bulldogs and Tar Heels duked it out on the courts. The freshmen duo of Trevor Foshey and Luka Sucevic fell to UNC's Anu Kodali and Ronnie Schneider, 6-2, but MSU would respond on court 3 as Rishab Agarwal and Niclas Braun downed Tar Heels Brett Clark and Andrew Gores, 6-3.
The doubles point would come down to court 1, as the 47th ranked duo of Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter battled No. 27 Jack Murray and Brayden Schnur. State fought back to force a tiebreaker after knotting it up at 6-6, but the Tar Heels would edge out MSU 7-6(5) to capture the doubles point and the early lead.
On the singles court, MSU would come out of the gate and claim two of the first sets as Agarwal and Strahinja Rakic won 7-5 and 6-4 respectively. No. 26 ranked Schnur outlasted No. 34 Cutura, 6-3, 6-4, for the first singles result of the day as UNC pulled ahead 2-0.
No. 46 Brett Clark downed No. 70 Nuno Borges, 6-4, 6-4, before UNC's Jack Murray would defeat Braun, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the win for the Tar Heels and send the second-seeded team to Sunday's quarterfinal.
“Even though our season ended today, I am excited about what's to come,” Roberts said. “We were a very young team this season and the sky is the limit with these guys next year. I am proud of what they've accomplished, but we will be even hungrier next season.”
The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Round of 16 with seven newcomers (six freshmen) after only returning two juniors from last year's entire roster. MSU's freshmen earned 65 of the 84 singles wins in dual matches this season, for 75 percent of the team's total wins.
Freshman Borges was the most decorated newcomer, earning All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Tournament Team honors after picking up a team best 20 dual-match singles wins in his first season. Braun was second among freshmen in accolades; earning SEC Freshman of the Week laurels twice on his way to a team best 27 singles wins overall.
The second-year coaching staff of Roberts and assistant Tanner Stump put together one of the best seasons in program history for their short period at the helm. Roberts has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back postseason appearances, while becoming the fastest coach at MSU to reach the NCAA Round of 16 after this year's run. Stump, who has been instrumental on the court and in recruiting, earned ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year status two weeks ago.
The postseason journeys for No. 34 Cutura and No. 54 Agarwal will continue, as the pair will compete in the 2016 NCAA Singles Championship on May 25-30 in Tulsa, Okla. Both players will be making their first appearances in the 64-player draw after turning in stellar seasons on the singles court.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow “HailStateMT” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 3 North Carolina 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 0
2016 NCAA Team Championship Round of 16
Friday, May, 20, 2016 - Michael Case Tennis Center – Tulsa, Okla.
Doubles
1. #27 Jack Murray/Brayden Schnur (North Carolina) def. #47 Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (Mississippi State), 7-6 (5)
2. Anu Kodali/Ronnie Schneider (North Carolina) def. Trevor Foshey/Luka Sucevic (Mississippi State), 6-2
3. Rishab Agarwal/Niclas Braun (Mississippi State) def. Brett Clark/Andrew Gores (North Carolina), 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. #26 Brayden Schnur (North Carolina) def. #34 Mate Cutura (Mississippi State), 6-3, 6-4
2. #54 Rishab Agarwal (Mississippi State) vs. #28 Ronnie Schneider (North Carolina), 7-5, 3-4 DNF
3. #46 Brett Clark (North Carolina) def. #70 Nuno Borges (Mississippi State), 6-4, 6-4
4. Jack Murray (North Carolina) def. Niclas Braun (Mississippi State), 6-4, 6-3
5. Strahinja Rakic (Mississippi State) vs. Anu Kodali (North Carolina), 6-4, 6-5 DNF
6. Blaine Boyden (North Carolina) vs. Luka Sucevic (Mississippi State), 6-3, 5-5 DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4
Players Mentioned
