Sunday, March 5
Auburn, Ala.
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
4
at
2
Auburn
Strahinja Rakic clinched MSU's 4-2 win at Auburn on Sunday.
No. 14 MSU Opens SEC Play With 4-2 Win
March 05, 2017 | Men's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. – Propelled by a surge of energy in singles play, the 14th-ranked Mississippi State men's tennis team (8-3, 1-0 SEC) overcame a slow start to defeat 49th-ranked Auburn (8-6, 0-1 SEC) as the Bulldogs opened conference play with a 4-2 win on Sunday.
The victory is MSU's fourth straight against a ranked opponent as the Bulldogs improved to 8-3 on the season and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference play.
"Today was an impressive win," head coach Matt Roberts said. "Not many teams can win like we did today under these tough conditions. We didn't give up down early and pushed through to play excellent tennis down the stretch. I'm proud of our guys and can't wait to get back home."
The Bulldogs host a doubleheader against Alcorn State (4-11) on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., before hosting its first SEC match of the season at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre against Alabama (6-8, 0-2 SEC) on Thursday at 3 p.m.
The Tigers began Sunday's match by taking the doubles point as Auburn won on courts one and two. No. 17 Max Hinnisdaels and Conner Huertas downed MSU's ranked pair of No. 26 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey, 6-2, before Edward Nguyen and Brandon Laubser clinched the point against Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter, 6-3. Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic's match with Dante Saleh and Olle Thestrup was suspended at 5-5.
Trailing by a point, the Bulldogs would quickly tie the match after current SEC Player of the Week and fourth-ranked Borges won in straight-sets over former SEC Player of the Week and 59th-ranked Hinnisdaels. The 6-2, 6-1 result was so fast for Borges that it came before other matches had even completed one set.
"Nuno had another solid performance for us at the top," Roberts said of Borges. "He did a great job of playing at the net and has shown a lot of improvement in that area. That's something he hasn't liked doing, but now he's added it to his game. I'm excited to see Nuno continue to grow and become an elite player in singles play."
The ranked win for Borges was his 12th of the season, while the singles victory moved his overall record to 20-3 on the season.
Tied at 1-1, Auburn would get a victory on court six as Foshey fell 6-4, 6-2 to retake the lead at 2-1. The deficit for MSU was short-lived as freshman Giovanni Oradini picked up a straight-set victory over Auburn's Nguyen, 6-3, 6-4, to tie the match at 2-2.
Braun would tilt the scales in MSU's favor following a 7-6(4), 6-3 win on court five to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. The victory for Braun was his fourth-consecutive singles win, moving his dual-match record to 6-4 for the spring.
"Nic played a tough opponent and I'm proud of the way he fought back to earn his win," Roberts said. "We needed that win at a crucial moment in the match and it was a huge point for us."
With only two matches remaining, the Tigers held a slight advantage on both courts until Rakic and Cutura mounted their comebacks. The first would come from Cutura on court three, who fought off defeat after winning a second-set tiebreaker to force a third set. Over on court two, Rakic also held off his foe as he won the second set to also force a deciding third set.
After a dip early in the third set that left Rakic down 5-2, the sophomore fought all the way back to take the set and the match from Carles Sarrio as the Bulldogs capped their hard-fought match with a 4-2 win.
"Mate and Strale really helped each other out today," Roberts said. "They fed off each other's momentum and gave each other confidence. Neither guy gave up and worked so hard in today's match."
Rakic defeated Sarrio, 6-7(8), 6-3, 7-5, for his fourth-consecutive singles win while Cutura's match was suspended after the clinch with the senior ahead 4-6, 7-6(8), 5-2.
"Our guys fought hard today and I'm proud of this win," Roberts said. "We enjoy matches like these, because the longer the match goes the stronger we get. We thrive in these kind of matches and today was another one of those fun matches we love."
Up Next
MSU's next home match will be a doubleheader against Alcorn State (4-11) on March 7 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. CT, before the Bulldogs host their first home SEC match against Alabama (6-8, 0-2 SEC) on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.
Additional Notes
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 14 Mississippi State 4, No. 49 Auburn 2
Auburn, Ala. – Yarbrough Tennis Center– March 5, 2017
Doubles
1. No. 17 Max Hinnisdaels/Conner Huertas (AU) def. No. 26 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-2
2. Eddy Nguyen/Bradon Laubser (AU) def. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) 6-3
3. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) vs. Dante Saleh/Olle Thestrup (AU) 5-5, suspended
Order of finish: 1, 2
Singles
1. No. 4 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 59 Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Strahinja Rakic (MSU) deff. Carles Sarrio (AU) 6-7(8), 6-3, 7-5*
3. Mate Cutura (MSU) vs. Conner Huertas (AU) 4-6, 7-6(8), 5-2, suspended
4. Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Eddy Nguyen (AU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Niclas Braun (MSU) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 6, 4, 5, 2
* - Match-clinching win
The victory is MSU's fourth straight against a ranked opponent as the Bulldogs improved to 8-3 on the season and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference play.
"Today was an impressive win," head coach Matt Roberts said. "Not many teams can win like we did today under these tough conditions. We didn't give up down early and pushed through to play excellent tennis down the stretch. I'm proud of our guys and can't wait to get back home."
The Bulldogs host a doubleheader against Alcorn State (4-11) on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., before hosting its first SEC match of the season at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre against Alabama (6-8, 0-2 SEC) on Thursday at 3 p.m.
The Tigers began Sunday's match by taking the doubles point as Auburn won on courts one and two. No. 17 Max Hinnisdaels and Conner Huertas downed MSU's ranked pair of No. 26 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey, 6-2, before Edward Nguyen and Brandon Laubser clinched the point against Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter, 6-3. Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic's match with Dante Saleh and Olle Thestrup was suspended at 5-5.
Trailing by a point, the Bulldogs would quickly tie the match after current SEC Player of the Week and fourth-ranked Borges won in straight-sets over former SEC Player of the Week and 59th-ranked Hinnisdaels. The 6-2, 6-1 result was so fast for Borges that it came before other matches had even completed one set.
"Nuno had another solid performance for us at the top," Roberts said of Borges. "He did a great job of playing at the net and has shown a lot of improvement in that area. That's something he hasn't liked doing, but now he's added it to his game. I'm excited to see Nuno continue to grow and become an elite player in singles play."
The ranked win for Borges was his 12th of the season, while the singles victory moved his overall record to 20-3 on the season.
Tied at 1-1, Auburn would get a victory on court six as Foshey fell 6-4, 6-2 to retake the lead at 2-1. The deficit for MSU was short-lived as freshman Giovanni Oradini picked up a straight-set victory over Auburn's Nguyen, 6-3, 6-4, to tie the match at 2-2.
Braun would tilt the scales in MSU's favor following a 7-6(4), 6-3 win on court five to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. The victory for Braun was his fourth-consecutive singles win, moving his dual-match record to 6-4 for the spring.
"Nic played a tough opponent and I'm proud of the way he fought back to earn his win," Roberts said. "We needed that win at a crucial moment in the match and it was a huge point for us."
With only two matches remaining, the Tigers held a slight advantage on both courts until Rakic and Cutura mounted their comebacks. The first would come from Cutura on court three, who fought off defeat after winning a second-set tiebreaker to force a third set. Over on court two, Rakic also held off his foe as he won the second set to also force a deciding third set.
After a dip early in the third set that left Rakic down 5-2, the sophomore fought all the way back to take the set and the match from Carles Sarrio as the Bulldogs capped their hard-fought match with a 4-2 win.
"Mate and Strale really helped each other out today," Roberts said. "They fed off each other's momentum and gave each other confidence. Neither guy gave up and worked so hard in today's match."
Rakic defeated Sarrio, 6-7(8), 6-3, 7-5, for his fourth-consecutive singles win while Cutura's match was suspended after the clinch with the senior ahead 4-6, 7-6(8), 5-2.
"Our guys fought hard today and I'm proud of this win," Roberts said. "We enjoy matches like these, because the longer the match goes the stronger we get. We thrive in these kind of matches and today was another one of those fun matches we love."
Up Next
MSU's next home match will be a doubleheader against Alcorn State (4-11) on March 7 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. CT, before the Bulldogs host their first home SEC match against Alabama (6-8, 0-2 SEC) on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.
Additional Notes
- MSU has now won its last four matches against Auburn
- State has not lost in Auburn since 2009
- The Bulldogs have only lost twice to the Tigers in the last 13 meetings
- MSU has won its last four matches against ranked foes
- The Bulldogs have now won four matches despite dropping the doubles point
- Head coach Matt Roberts is now 2-1 in SEC openers
- Coach Roberts earned his 28th career ranked win at MSU on Sunday
- No. 4 Nuno Borges is now 10-0 for his career at the No. 1 position
- Borges is undefeated in dual-match play at 8-0
- The sophomore has won his last eight matches in singles action
- Niclas Braun and Strahinja Rakic have each won their last four matches in singles
- Giovanni Oradini is on a two-match winning streak in singles
- The clinch for Rakic was his first of the season
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 14 Mississippi State 4, No. 49 Auburn 2
Auburn, Ala. – Yarbrough Tennis Center– March 5, 2017
Doubles
1. No. 17 Max Hinnisdaels/Conner Huertas (AU) def. No. 26 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-2
2. Eddy Nguyen/Bradon Laubser (AU) def. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) 6-3
3. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) vs. Dante Saleh/Olle Thestrup (AU) 5-5, suspended
Order of finish: 1, 2
Singles
1. No. 4 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 59 Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Strahinja Rakic (MSU) deff. Carles Sarrio (AU) 6-7(8), 6-3, 7-5*
3. Mate Cutura (MSU) vs. Conner Huertas (AU) 4-6, 7-6(8), 5-2, suspended
4. Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Eddy Nguyen (AU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Niclas Braun (MSU) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 6, 4, 5, 2
* - Match-clinching win
Players Mentioned
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