Bulldogs ink two international players for the fall season.
Greenan Adds Pair of Women’s Tennis Signees
July 06, 2016 | Women's Tennis
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STARKVILLE, Miss. – After registering one of the best overall years in program history last season, Mississippi State women's tennis head coach Daryl Greenan officially turned the page to the 2016-17 season as he announced the signing of two international prospects on Thursday.
Japan's Lisa Marie Rioux and Spain's Sara Lizariturry will join the Bulldogs this fall, bolstering an already stellar lineup for the upcoming season.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Lisa Marie and Sara to the Bulldog family," Greenan said. "They are talented athletes and great girls I believe these two will fit in and make an immediate impact on our team." Bulldog signee Lisa Marie Rioux
Hailing from Okinawa, Japan, Rioux comes to Starkville as one of the top 50 ranked players in her home country. The right-hander climbed as high as 250 on the ITF Junior Circuit, while compiling a 35-25 record in singles play. Rioux posted her most successful year as a junior in 2015, winning a national team championship and claiming a high school national championship in doubles.
On the Women's Pro Circuit, Rioux has picked up four main draw wins in singles play resulting in a career-high WTA ranking of 820. Her most recent success on the Pro Circuit was at Nishi-Tama, as she advanced to the round of 16 in singles and earned a quarterfinal finish in doubles action.
Rounding out Greenan's class is Madrid native Lizariturry. The Madrid native comes to MSU with experience on the ITF Pro Circuit as well, compiling eight matches in 2016 across her home country of Spain.
Lizariturry joins current Bulldog Madison Harrison as a player whose sibling plays tennis professionally. Lizariturry's brother, Juan Lizariturry, earned a 304 ATP ranking in singles, while Harrison's brother, Ryan Harrison, climbed as high as 43 in the ATP rankings.
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