Sunday, March 19
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
4
vs
1
Arkansas
Freshman Sara Lizariturry clinched another match for MSU as the Bulldogs upset No. 15 Arkansas.
Photo by: John R. Cade
No. 41 MSU Upsets No. 15 Arkansas, 4-1
March 19, 2017 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Building off a Friday shutout of No. 42 Missouri, the 41st-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis team (10-4, 3-3 SEC) toppled 15th-ranked and Southeastern Conference-leading Arkansas (13-3, 4-1 SEC) on Sunday in impressive fashion, as the Bulldogs posted a 4-1 upset over the Razorbacks to cap a stellar weekend at home.
The ranked win, which snapped a 10-match Arkansas win streak and was MSU's fourth in a row over the Hogs, ties for the second-highest in school history for the Maroon and White, while the upset marks the third-consecutive season the Bulldogs have downed a top 15 foe.
"Our girls did a great job with their energy in both matches this weekend," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "That's something we addressed this week - we talked about controlling our energy level regardless of what is happening, not only on their own court, but pumping each other up. We've had a lot of things just getting better for us each week. We are getting healthier and the girls are playing with a little bit more confidence."
For the second time this weekend, the Bulldogs began with a strong showing in doubles play as MSU earned the doubles point to kick off Sunday's action.
On court 3, MSU's tandem of Madison Harrison and Sara Lizariturry recorded their first win on the season after overpowering Arkansas's pair of Agne Cepelyte and Leolia Jeanjean 6-3. The opening point would then be secured soon after as the 13th-ranked Bulldog duo of Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux ousted the Razorback tandem of Shannon Hudson and Giulia Pairone 6-3 on court 1.
The remaining court was suspended with the Bulldog tandem of Jennifer Brown and Khrystyna Vozniak trailing 5-4 on court 2.
"I like what we saw this weekend in doubles play," Greenan said. "Jasmine and Lisa are still playing outstanding, which has given us a big advantage. We have an entire team that is capable of winning for us in doubles which is nice to have."
With the 1-0 lead, the Bulldogs carried the momentum into singles play as the Maroon and White took four of the six first sets to up the team victory.
The 57th-ranked all-American Lee overwhelmed UA's SEC Player of the Week, 64th-ranked Hudson, in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) at No. 1 to earn her sixth ranked win of the season. The win extended MSU's lead to 2-0 as Lee handed Hudson her first conference loss in singles play.
"Jasmine has been putting in a lot of work and deserves everything that's happening to her now," Greenan said. "We believe that she can beat anybody in the country on any given day."
The Razorbacks bounced back when the visitors earned their first point of the day following a win on court 5. UA's Pairone held off State's Vozniak in a three-set affair, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, to cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1.
The Maroon and White would extend the lead to 3-1 when the true freshman Rioux pulled out a tight contest on court 2. The Bulldog rookie upended UA's 118th-ranked Ana Oparenovic 7-6(3), 6-4 to pick up her first career victory against a ranked opponent. The win also improved Rioux's dual match singles record to 10-3 on the year.
For the second time this weekend, the match would be decided on court 6 as another Bulldog newcomer, Lizariturry, turned in a gutsy performance to win a hard-fought, three-set battle. After dropping the first set, the true freshman would win four-straight games in the second set to force a third against UA's Natsuho Arakawa. At 4-4 in the third, Lizariturry broke serve and then held her own for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 comeback victory to clinch the 4-1 upset for the Bulldogs.
"Lisa has been so close in so many matches against ranked opponents," Greenan said. "Today she played a little bit more aggressively and confidently. Sara plays with a lot of heart and she really dug deep today. Both of our freshmen make huge impacts for us and give a ton of effort."
The remaining two matches were suspended, each in the third set. On court 3, State's Harrison was down 5-7, 6-2, 5-3 against UA's Jeanjean while, at No. 4, MSU's Rentouli trailed 0-6, 7-5, 3-2 to the Razorback's Mia Jurasic.
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road to face No. 19 Tennessee on Friday, March 24, and No. 6 Georgia on Sunday, March 26, to continue Southeastern Conference action.
Additional Notes
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 41 Mississippi State 4, No. 15 Arkansas 1
March 19, 2017 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
Doubles
Order of match finish…3,1
1. No. 13 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Shannon Hudson/Giulia Pairone (UA) 6-3
2. Mia Jurasic/Ana Oparenovic (UA) vs. Jennifer Brown/Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 5-4 (susp.)
3. Madison Harrison/Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Agne Cepelyte/Leolia Jeanjean (UA) 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish…1,5,2,6
1. No. 57 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 64 Shannon Hudson (UA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. No. 118 Ana Oparenovic (UA) 7-6(3), 6-4
3. Leolia Jeanjean (UA) vs. Madison Harrison (MSU) 5-7, 6-2, 5-3 (susp.)
4. Mia Jurasic (UA) vs. Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 0-6, 7-5, 3-2 (susp.)
5. Giulia Pairone (UA) def. Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
6. Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Natsuho Arakawa (UA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
The ranked win, which snapped a 10-match Arkansas win streak and was MSU's fourth in a row over the Hogs, ties for the second-highest in school history for the Maroon and White, while the upset marks the third-consecutive season the Bulldogs have downed a top 15 foe.
"Our girls did a great job with their energy in both matches this weekend," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "That's something we addressed this week - we talked about controlling our energy level regardless of what is happening, not only on their own court, but pumping each other up. We've had a lot of things just getting better for us each week. We are getting healthier and the girls are playing with a little bit more confidence."
For the second time this weekend, the Bulldogs began with a strong showing in doubles play as MSU earned the doubles point to kick off Sunday's action.
On court 3, MSU's tandem of Madison Harrison and Sara Lizariturry recorded their first win on the season after overpowering Arkansas's pair of Agne Cepelyte and Leolia Jeanjean 6-3. The opening point would then be secured soon after as the 13th-ranked Bulldog duo of Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux ousted the Razorback tandem of Shannon Hudson and Giulia Pairone 6-3 on court 1.
The remaining court was suspended with the Bulldog tandem of Jennifer Brown and Khrystyna Vozniak trailing 5-4 on court 2.
"I like what we saw this weekend in doubles play," Greenan said. "Jasmine and Lisa are still playing outstanding, which has given us a big advantage. We have an entire team that is capable of winning for us in doubles which is nice to have."
With the 1-0 lead, the Bulldogs carried the momentum into singles play as the Maroon and White took four of the six first sets to up the team victory.
The 57th-ranked all-American Lee overwhelmed UA's SEC Player of the Week, 64th-ranked Hudson, in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) at No. 1 to earn her sixth ranked win of the season. The win extended MSU's lead to 2-0 as Lee handed Hudson her first conference loss in singles play.
"Jasmine has been putting in a lot of work and deserves everything that's happening to her now," Greenan said. "We believe that she can beat anybody in the country on any given day."
The Razorbacks bounced back when the visitors earned their first point of the day following a win on court 5. UA's Pairone held off State's Vozniak in a three-set affair, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, to cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1.
The Maroon and White would extend the lead to 3-1 when the true freshman Rioux pulled out a tight contest on court 2. The Bulldog rookie upended UA's 118th-ranked Ana Oparenovic 7-6(3), 6-4 to pick up her first career victory against a ranked opponent. The win also improved Rioux's dual match singles record to 10-3 on the year.
For the second time this weekend, the match would be decided on court 6 as another Bulldog newcomer, Lizariturry, turned in a gutsy performance to win a hard-fought, three-set battle. After dropping the first set, the true freshman would win four-straight games in the second set to force a third against UA's Natsuho Arakawa. At 4-4 in the third, Lizariturry broke serve and then held her own for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 comeback victory to clinch the 4-1 upset for the Bulldogs.
"Lisa has been so close in so many matches against ranked opponents," Greenan said. "Today she played a little bit more aggressively and confidently. Sara plays with a lot of heart and she really dug deep today. Both of our freshmen make huge impacts for us and give a ton of effort."
The remaining two matches were suspended, each in the third set. On court 3, State's Harrison was down 5-7, 6-2, 5-3 against UA's Jeanjean while, at No. 4, MSU's Rentouli trailed 0-6, 7-5, 3-2 to the Razorback's Mia Jurasic.
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road to face No. 19 Tennessee on Friday, March 24, and No. 6 Georgia on Sunday, March 26, to continue Southeastern Conference action.
Additional Notes
- State now owns a four-match winning streak in the series with the Razorbacks
- The victory snapped a 10-match winning streak for Arkansas
- The win was the 400th MSU women's tennis history.
- The Bulldogs are now 8-1 at home this season
- State remained perfect, at 8-0, this season when winning the doubles point
- Head Coach Daryl Greenan has all three of MSU's top-15 upsets in program history
- Senior Jasmine Lee recorded her team-leading 16th singles win on the season
- Freshmen Sara Lizariturry and Lisa Marie Rioux notched their third SEC singles wins
- Lizariturry provided MSU's match-clinching win for the third time this season
- Rioux notched her first career victory against a ranked opponent
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 41 Mississippi State 4, No. 15 Arkansas 1
March 19, 2017 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
Doubles
Order of match finish…3,1
1. No. 13 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Shannon Hudson/Giulia Pairone (UA) 6-3
2. Mia Jurasic/Ana Oparenovic (UA) vs. Jennifer Brown/Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 5-4 (susp.)
3. Madison Harrison/Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Agne Cepelyte/Leolia Jeanjean (UA) 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish…1,5,2,6
1. No. 57 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 64 Shannon Hudson (UA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. No. 118 Ana Oparenovic (UA) 7-6(3), 6-4
3. Leolia Jeanjean (UA) vs. Madison Harrison (MSU) 5-7, 6-2, 5-3 (susp.)
4. Mia Jurasic (UA) vs. Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 0-6, 7-5, 3-2 (susp.)
5. Giulia Pairone (UA) def. Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
6. Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Natsuho Arakawa (UA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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