State Netmen End Season Ranked 14th Nationally; Baron #1 In Singles
May 25, 2016 | Men's Tennis
State's No. 14 team ranking marks the 13th-straight season the Bulldogs have finished in the top 25 nationally. MSU is one of only eight schools (Georgia, LSU, MSU, Pepperdine, Southern Cal, Stanford, Texas, UCLA) in the country to have accomplished that feat. State, which finished 14-11 overall, advanced to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" this year for the 10th time in 11 years and is one of only five schools (Georgia, LSU, MSU, Stanford, UCLA) to have done so.
Three Bulldogs ended the year in the top 60 nationally in the individual singles rankings.
Baron came in as the nation's top-ranked player in Friday's final poll, making him the sixth Bulldog ever to hold a No. 1 national ranking. He joins former MSU all-Americans Daniel Courcol, Thomas Dupre', Laurent Miquelard, Laurent Orsini and Joc Simmons in that category.
The 2001 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Baron compiled 82-28 singles and 66-30 doubles overall records as a Bulldog, garnering all-America and first-team, all-SEC honors three years each. He had the best year of his career this season, going 23-5 overall in singles, including triumphs in 21 of his last 23 matches, and 20-9 in doubles. An Academic all-American, Baron was also named this year's Rafael Osuna Sportmanship Award winner on the national level, annually presented to the collegiate player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics, and has also had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments.
True freshman Romain Ambert came in ranked 33rd in the country Friday after an outstanding initial season on the collegiate level. The Toulouse, France, native went 27-11 this year in singles and was named ITA Region III's Player to Watch. Also a first-team, all-SEC selection, Ambert was ranked as high as sixth nationally, mainly due to an impressive fall semester. His ranking was limited this spring when he broke his ankle in late March and missed six weeks of competition. He returned in time to compete in the NCAA Team and Singles Championships.
Sophomore Rene'-Charles Combette is ranked 59th nationally in Friday's final poll. The Corsica, France, product started the year with an outstanding fall (16-5 record), during which he captured the singles title of the Thunderbird Invitational and reached the quarterfinals of the National Clay Court Championships. But injuries were also a nemesis for Combette this spring, as he struggled to an 18-19 overall record for the year.
In doubles, State had two teams ranked Friday. Baron and Chris McDonald finished 14th in the country. They went 9-4 overall with six wins over ranked foes (four in the top 15) and reached the round of 16 of the NCAA Doubles Championship. McDonald was also ranked with senior Mathieu Soto at No. 48. That duo qualified for both Collegiate Grand Slam events in the fall and had four ranked victories during the year.
"We are extremely proud of our positions in the final rankings," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We had a great season and many outstanding accomplishments during the year.
"I am also very happy that Marco finished No. 1. He is very deserving to join that group of elite players that we have had hold that prestigious national position."
MSU IN THE WINGSPANBANK.COM COLLEGIATE RANKINGS, FINAL EDITION -- 6/1/01
MEN'S TEAM - 14th
MEN'S SINGLES Marco Baron-1st Romain Ambert-33rd Rene'-Charles Combette-59th
MEN'S DOUBLES Baron/Chris McDonald-14th McDonald/Mathieu Soto-48th
