Saturday, January 28
Ann Arbor, Mich.
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
4
vs
1
Syracuse
Senior All-American Jasmine Lee cruised to wins in singles and doubles for MSU Saturday.
No. 23 MSU Women’s Tennis Downs Syracuse To Open ITA Kick-Off Weekend
January 28, 2017 | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 23rd-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis team (2-0) opened the 2017 ITA Kick-off Weekend in excellent fashion Saturday, ousting Syracuse (1-2) 4-1 in the first round at Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center. It was the first-ever meeting between the teams.
With the victory, State advances to Sunday's second round to meet weekend host, No. 14 Michigan (1-0) at 1 p.m. CT. In their 2017 debut, the Wolverines overcame dropping doubles Saturday to cruise past Denver 4-1. The winner of Sunday's MSU-Michigan affair will advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 10-13, at Yale University. Live stats and video for Sunday's contest will be available at mgoblue.com.
State got things off to a good start Saturday, claiming victories at No. 1 and 3 doubles for a 1-0 lead. At No. 1, MSU's fifth-ranked team of Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux cruised to a 6-1 triumph over SU's Gabriela Knutson and Ester Mesh. The other two spots were in close battles, but MSU finally got the win it needed on court 3, where Sara Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli rallied from an early break down to claim a 6-4 win over the Orange tandem of Nicole Mitchell and Maria Tritou. Court 2 play was then suspended, with Bulldogs Jennifer Brown and Madison Harrison leading SU's Dina Hegab and Miranda Ramirez, 5-4.
The story was much the same in singles, where the Bulldogs won five of the six first sets to set up their victory.
Giving MSU a 2-0 lead was Lee as the 27th-ranked senior All-American rolled past SU's 99th-ranked Knutson 6-3, 6-2 at the top spot in the lineup. The Orange got its only point of the match next, as Ramirez downed State's Harrison 6-3, 6-1 on court 2.
The Bulldogs then won the next two matches almost simultaneously, as the true freshmen Lizariturry and Rioux closed out straight-set wins to clinch the match for MSU. Lizariturry held off Syracuse's Mesh 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5. Shortly thereafter, Rioux delivered a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over the Orange's Tritou on court 3.
The remaining matches were suspended at that point with State in control in both. On court 4, the Bulldog sophomore Rentouli led SU's Hegab 6-2, 4-1. And at No. 6, MSU's Brown led 7-6(1), 2-1 against Mitchell after rallying from a first-set deficit to claim the tiebreaker.
"Our girls did a great job overall today. Syracuse is a big-hitting team and I am proud of how we responded," MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Jasmine and Lisa were very dominant in doubles and Ana and Sara picked up their games at the right time to put us up 1-0. We carried the momentum into singles.
"It's a big win for us early in the season and now we have a great opportunity tomorrow against Michigan. I think it will be a tough battle and I know it is the challenge our girls want."
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 23 Mississippi State 4, Syracuse 1
2017 ITA Kickoff Weekend
Saturday, January 28, 2017 – Varsity Tennis Center – Ann Arbor, Mich.
Doubles
1 - No. 5 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Gabriela Kutson/Ester Mesh (SU) 6-1
2 - Jennifer Brown/Madison Harrison (MSU) vs. Dina Hegab/Miranda Ramirez (SU) 5-4, susp.
3 - Sara Lizariturry/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU) 6-4
Singles
1 - No. 27 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 99 Gabriela Knutson (SU) 6-3, 6-2
2 - Miranda Ramirez (SU) def. Madison Harrison (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
3 - Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Maria Tintou (SU) 6-3, 6-1
4 - Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) vs. Dina Hegab (SU) 6-2, 4-1, susp.
5 - Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Ester Mesh (SU) 6-2, 6-3
6 - Jennifer Brown (MSU) vs. Nicole Mitchell (SU) 7-6(1), 2-1, susp.
Order of finish
Doubles: 1,3
Singles: 1,2,5,3
With the victory, State advances to Sunday's second round to meet weekend host, No. 14 Michigan (1-0) at 1 p.m. CT. In their 2017 debut, the Wolverines overcame dropping doubles Saturday to cruise past Denver 4-1. The winner of Sunday's MSU-Michigan affair will advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 10-13, at Yale University. Live stats and video for Sunday's contest will be available at mgoblue.com.
State got things off to a good start Saturday, claiming victories at No. 1 and 3 doubles for a 1-0 lead. At No. 1, MSU's fifth-ranked team of Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux cruised to a 6-1 triumph over SU's Gabriela Knutson and Ester Mesh. The other two spots were in close battles, but MSU finally got the win it needed on court 3, where Sara Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli rallied from an early break down to claim a 6-4 win over the Orange tandem of Nicole Mitchell and Maria Tritou. Court 2 play was then suspended, with Bulldogs Jennifer Brown and Madison Harrison leading SU's Dina Hegab and Miranda Ramirez, 5-4.
The story was much the same in singles, where the Bulldogs won five of the six first sets to set up their victory.
Giving MSU a 2-0 lead was Lee as the 27th-ranked senior All-American rolled past SU's 99th-ranked Knutson 6-3, 6-2 at the top spot in the lineup. The Orange got its only point of the match next, as Ramirez downed State's Harrison 6-3, 6-1 on court 2.
The Bulldogs then won the next two matches almost simultaneously, as the true freshmen Lizariturry and Rioux closed out straight-set wins to clinch the match for MSU. Lizariturry held off Syracuse's Mesh 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5. Shortly thereafter, Rioux delivered a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over the Orange's Tritou on court 3.
The remaining matches were suspended at that point with State in control in both. On court 4, the Bulldog sophomore Rentouli led SU's Hegab 6-2, 4-1. And at No. 6, MSU's Brown led 7-6(1), 2-1 against Mitchell after rallying from a first-set deficit to claim the tiebreaker.
"Our girls did a great job overall today. Syracuse is a big-hitting team and I am proud of how we responded," MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Jasmine and Lisa were very dominant in doubles and Ana and Sara picked up their games at the right time to put us up 1-0. We carried the momentum into singles.
"It's a big win for us early in the season and now we have a great opportunity tomorrow against Michigan. I think it will be a tough battle and I know it is the challenge our girls want."
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 23 Mississippi State 4, Syracuse 1
2017 ITA Kickoff Weekend
Saturday, January 28, 2017 – Varsity Tennis Center – Ann Arbor, Mich.
Doubles
1 - No. 5 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Gabriela Kutson/Ester Mesh (SU) 6-1
2 - Jennifer Brown/Madison Harrison (MSU) vs. Dina Hegab/Miranda Ramirez (SU) 5-4, susp.
3 - Sara Lizariturry/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) def. Nicole Mitchell/Maria Tritou (SU) 6-4
Singles
1 - No. 27 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 99 Gabriela Knutson (SU) 6-3, 6-2
2 - Miranda Ramirez (SU) def. Madison Harrison (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
3 - Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Maria Tintou (SU) 6-3, 6-1
4 - Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) vs. Dina Hegab (SU) 6-2, 4-1, susp.
5 - Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Ester Mesh (SU) 6-2, 6-3
6 - Jennifer Brown (MSU) vs. Nicole Mitchell (SU) 7-6(1), 2-1, susp.
Order of finish
Doubles: 1,3
Singles: 1,2,5,3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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