Sunday, January 22
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
UAB
No. 24 women's tennis opens home season against UAB.
No. 24 MSU Women’s Tennis Opens 2017 Season Against UAB Sunday
January 21, 2017 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to build on last year's many successes, the 24th-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis team is set to host UAB (1-2) on Sunday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre to open the 2017 season.
First serve time between the Bulldogs and Blazers is set for 1 p.m. CT. Should inclement weather become a factor, the match could be moved indoors to McCarthy Gymnasium. Fans should follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter for updates on Sunday.
"We're all excited to kick off a new season," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Our girls have been working hard and are ready for our first test tomorrow. It will be the first match of the year and first dual match for our freshmen, so nerves will be a factor. I'm sure it will be a challenging match and I look forward to going to battle with this team."
State returns six veteran players from last season's team. All-American and All-SEC senior Jasmine Lee opens the season ranked 27th nationally in singles. Juniors Jennifer Brown, Madison Harrison and Khrystyna Vozniak look to get back on the court after battling injuries over the fall. Sophomores Caroline Kelly and Anastasia Rentouli are back after contributing to MSU's success last season as well.
Two new Bulldog faces look to make their dual match debut in this weekend's opener. Freshmen Sara Lizariturry and Lisa Marie Rioux currently lead the team in doubles wins and singles wins, respectively, for 2016-17.
Named MSU's first-ever All-American in singles in 2016, Lee composed a record of 4-3 this fall, while competing in two of the three majors of the collegiate tennis season held during the 2016 fall season. Ranked as high as ninth nationally last spring, she was a first-team, All-SEC selection and reached the NCAA singles quarterfinals, the first Bulldog ever to do so.
The MSU tandem Rioux and Lee currently sit at No. 5 nationally in doubles rankings. It is the highest ranking by an MSU doubles team since 1989 NCAA Doubles Champions Jackie Holden and Claire Pollard ended that season ranked No. 1 in the country. Lee and Rioux posted an 8-1 record in their first semester together, with five wins coming against ranked opponents and a quarterfinal appearance in the main draw at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
In 2016, State reached the NCAA Second Round as a team for the second consecutive year and fifth time all-time. Guided by head coach Daryl Greenan, MSU went 18-9 for the year, its second-most single-season triumphs ever. State also finished 7-6 in the powerful Southeastern Conference (the seven wins were a program best) and reached the quarterfinals of the SEC Championship for the second year in a row.
UAB comes into the weekend at 1-2, after splitting its opening weekend by defeating Lipscomb and falling at Alabama. Most recently, the Blazers fell at Memphis Friday in a close 4-3 match.
After hosting the Blazers, MSU will head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the 2017 ITA Kickoff Weekend. MSU faces Syracuse on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. CT, before taking on the winner of Denver and host Michigan the following day.
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
First serve time between the Bulldogs and Blazers is set for 1 p.m. CT. Should inclement weather become a factor, the match could be moved indoors to McCarthy Gymnasium. Fans should follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter for updates on Sunday.
"We're all excited to kick off a new season," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Our girls have been working hard and are ready for our first test tomorrow. It will be the first match of the year and first dual match for our freshmen, so nerves will be a factor. I'm sure it will be a challenging match and I look forward to going to battle with this team."
State returns six veteran players from last season's team. All-American and All-SEC senior Jasmine Lee opens the season ranked 27th nationally in singles. Juniors Jennifer Brown, Madison Harrison and Khrystyna Vozniak look to get back on the court after battling injuries over the fall. Sophomores Caroline Kelly and Anastasia Rentouli are back after contributing to MSU's success last season as well.
Two new Bulldog faces look to make their dual match debut in this weekend's opener. Freshmen Sara Lizariturry and Lisa Marie Rioux currently lead the team in doubles wins and singles wins, respectively, for 2016-17.
Named MSU's first-ever All-American in singles in 2016, Lee composed a record of 4-3 this fall, while competing in two of the three majors of the collegiate tennis season held during the 2016 fall season. Ranked as high as ninth nationally last spring, she was a first-team, All-SEC selection and reached the NCAA singles quarterfinals, the first Bulldog ever to do so.
The MSU tandem Rioux and Lee currently sit at No. 5 nationally in doubles rankings. It is the highest ranking by an MSU doubles team since 1989 NCAA Doubles Champions Jackie Holden and Claire Pollard ended that season ranked No. 1 in the country. Lee and Rioux posted an 8-1 record in their first semester together, with five wins coming against ranked opponents and a quarterfinal appearance in the main draw at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
In 2016, State reached the NCAA Second Round as a team for the second consecutive year and fifth time all-time. Guided by head coach Daryl Greenan, MSU went 18-9 for the year, its second-most single-season triumphs ever. State also finished 7-6 in the powerful Southeastern Conference (the seven wins were a program best) and reached the quarterfinals of the SEC Championship for the second year in a row.
UAB comes into the weekend at 1-2, after splitting its opening weekend by defeating Lipscomb and falling at Alabama. Most recently, the Blazers fell at Memphis Friday in a close 4-3 match.
After hosting the Blazers, MSU will head to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the 2017 ITA Kickoff Weekend. MSU faces Syracuse on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. CT, before taking on the winner of Denver and host Michigan the following day.
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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