Sunday, March 5
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
4
vs
3
Alabama
State's rookie Sara Lizariturry clinched the 4-3 victory with a three-set victory.
No. 33 MSU Women’s Tennis Wins 4-3 Thriller Over No. 34 Alabama
March 05, 2017 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – To end the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play, the 33rd-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis team (8-2, 1-1 SEC) outlasted No. 34 Alabama (6-6, 0-2 SEC) in a down-to-the-wire, 4-3 thriller on Sunday after a two-hour rain delay.
The victory gave State its third consecutive triumph over the Crimson Tide.
"I think there was a lot of quality tennis and courage throughout points in all the matches," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Some of our girls who came up short should feel confident they are playing a high level and battled tested. That should help us moving forward and any win in the SEC is humongous."
The Bulldogs won the doubles point for the first time in four matches to grab the early 1-0 lead. On court 1, State's eighth-ranked Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux made quick work of Alabama's Maddie Pothoff and Erin Routliffe 6-1. Following on court 3, the Bulldog pair of Madison Harrison and Khrystyna Vozniak edged out the Tide's duo of Smith Hinton and Juliana Valero 6-3 to clinch the doubles point and give MSU a 1-0 lead.
"It was huge to get the doubles point. Erin Routliffe and anybody is one of the best doubles teams in the country. I was impressed with how Jasmine and Lisa played today, they were focused and played well. Madison and Khrystyna played their best tennis of the year. They have been coming on lately and that was big of them to get the clincher."
The remaining court was suspended with the Bulldog tandem of Sara Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli trailing 5-2 on court 2.
Leading 1-0, the Bulldogs would have to fight the rest of the way to claim victory as the Tide answered every Bulldog point with their own.
On court 2, Alabama's Andie Daniell defeated State's Harrison in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to give the Tide its first point and knot the score at 1-1. Following on court 4, MSU's Rentouli fought off the Crimson Tide's Hinton 7-5, 6-3 to put the Maroon and White back in front, 2-1. At the No. 5 position, Bama's Pothoff edged State's Vozniak in a 7-6(3), 6-4 decision to tie the match again, this time at 2-2.
"Anastasia has been working hard and is focused on her game," Greenan said. "She's trying to figure out what type of player she is. She did a good job today and had a lot of courage in a really tough match."
The final three courts all went to a third set, with both teams needing a pair of wins to clinch a victory.
In a huge comeback effort at the No. 1 spot, State's All-American and 73rd-ranked Lee picked up her second ranked win on the weekend after outlasting UA's No. 116 Routliffe 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to put the Bulldogs on top 3-2. At the No. 3 position, Bama senior Danielle Spielmann held off the State rookie Rioux in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 battle to tie the match for a third time at 3-3.
"That was really tough for Jasmine," Greenan said of Lee's win. "Not only the level that Erin was playing, but the whole history of those two. Jasmine has a target on her back this season with how well she did last year, so I'm super proud of how she stepped up and overcame Erin's level and determination to get the win."
All eyes then turned to court 6 as MSU's other freshman, Lizariturry, was tied 3-3 in the third and final set with Alabama's Valero. A trade of service breaks knotted the score at 4-4 and then the Bulldog rookie held to take a 5-4 lead. Needing a break for the set and match, Lizariturry earned two match points at 30-40. The final point was a great exchange as the ball crossed the net nine times before Lizariturry proved victorious, taking the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and clinching the very exciting match for the Bulldogs at 4-3.
"That kid has a huge heart and she had to channel some of that fire," Greenan said of Lizariturry. "She has a fiery personality and she was able to do it in the end. I am so proud of her that there are not any words to describe it."
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road to continue SEC action next weekend as they travel to No. 14 Vanderbilt (March 10) and No. 30 Kentucky (March 12).
Additional Notes
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 33 Mississippi State 4, No. 34 Alabama 3
March 5, 2017 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
Doubles
Order of match finish…1,3
1. No. 8 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Maddie Pothoff/Erin Routliffe (UA) 6-1
2. Andie Daniell/Danielle Spielmann (UA) vs. Sara Lizariturry/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 5-2 (susp.)
3. Madison Harrison/Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) def. Smith Hinton/Juliana Valero (UA) 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish…2,4,5,1,3,6
1. No. 73 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 116 Erin Routliffe (UA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Andie Daniell (UA) def. Madison Harrison (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Danielle Spielmann (UA) def. Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
4. Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) def. Smith Hinton (UA) 7-5, 6-3
5. Maddie Pothoff (UA) def. Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 7-6(3), 6-4
6. Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Juliana Valero (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
---HailState.com---
The victory gave State its third consecutive triumph over the Crimson Tide.
"I think there was a lot of quality tennis and courage throughout points in all the matches," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Some of our girls who came up short should feel confident they are playing a high level and battled tested. That should help us moving forward and any win in the SEC is humongous."
The Bulldogs won the doubles point for the first time in four matches to grab the early 1-0 lead. On court 1, State's eighth-ranked Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux made quick work of Alabama's Maddie Pothoff and Erin Routliffe 6-1. Following on court 3, the Bulldog pair of Madison Harrison and Khrystyna Vozniak edged out the Tide's duo of Smith Hinton and Juliana Valero 6-3 to clinch the doubles point and give MSU a 1-0 lead.
"It was huge to get the doubles point. Erin Routliffe and anybody is one of the best doubles teams in the country. I was impressed with how Jasmine and Lisa played today, they were focused and played well. Madison and Khrystyna played their best tennis of the year. They have been coming on lately and that was big of them to get the clincher."
The remaining court was suspended with the Bulldog tandem of Sara Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli trailing 5-2 on court 2.
Leading 1-0, the Bulldogs would have to fight the rest of the way to claim victory as the Tide answered every Bulldog point with their own.
On court 2, Alabama's Andie Daniell defeated State's Harrison in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to give the Tide its first point and knot the score at 1-1. Following on court 4, MSU's Rentouli fought off the Crimson Tide's Hinton 7-5, 6-3 to put the Maroon and White back in front, 2-1. At the No. 5 position, Bama's Pothoff edged State's Vozniak in a 7-6(3), 6-4 decision to tie the match again, this time at 2-2.
"Anastasia has been working hard and is focused on her game," Greenan said. "She's trying to figure out what type of player she is. She did a good job today and had a lot of courage in a really tough match."
The final three courts all went to a third set, with both teams needing a pair of wins to clinch a victory.
In a huge comeback effort at the No. 1 spot, State's All-American and 73rd-ranked Lee picked up her second ranked win on the weekend after outlasting UA's No. 116 Routliffe 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to put the Bulldogs on top 3-2. At the No. 3 position, Bama senior Danielle Spielmann held off the State rookie Rioux in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 battle to tie the match for a third time at 3-3.
"That was really tough for Jasmine," Greenan said of Lee's win. "Not only the level that Erin was playing, but the whole history of those two. Jasmine has a target on her back this season with how well she did last year, so I'm super proud of how she stepped up and overcame Erin's level and determination to get the win."
All eyes then turned to court 6 as MSU's other freshman, Lizariturry, was tied 3-3 in the third and final set with Alabama's Valero. A trade of service breaks knotted the score at 4-4 and then the Bulldog rookie held to take a 5-4 lead. Needing a break for the set and match, Lizariturry earned two match points at 30-40. The final point was a great exchange as the ball crossed the net nine times before Lizariturry proved victorious, taking the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and clinching the very exciting match for the Bulldogs at 4-3.
"That kid has a huge heart and she had to channel some of that fire," Greenan said of Lizariturry. "She has a fiery personality and she was able to do it in the end. I am so proud of her that there are not any words to describe it."
Up Next
The Bulldogs hit the road to continue SEC action next weekend as they travel to No. 14 Vanderbilt (March 10) and No. 30 Kentucky (March 12).
Additional Notes
- MSU now holds a three-match winning streak in the series with Alabama
- Senior Jasmine Lee is a combined 3-1 after the SEC opening weekend
- Lee is a combined 11-1 over the last six matches
- Freshman Sara Lizariturry provided the first match-clinching win of her career
- Three Bulldogs picked up SEC victories in Lee, Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli in singles
- Four Bulldogs picked up SEC victories in Lee, Lisa Marie Rioux, Madison Harrison and Khrystyna Vozniak in doubles
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
No. 33 Mississippi State 4, No. 34 Alabama 3
March 5, 2017 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
Doubles
Order of match finish…1,3
1. No. 8 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) def. Maddie Pothoff/Erin Routliffe (UA) 6-1
2. Andie Daniell/Danielle Spielmann (UA) vs. Sara Lizariturry/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 5-2 (susp.)
3. Madison Harrison/Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) def. Smith Hinton/Juliana Valero (UA) 6-3
Singles
Order of match finish…2,4,5,1,3,6
1. No. 73 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 116 Erin Routliffe (UA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Andie Daniell (UA) def. Madison Harrison (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Danielle Spielmann (UA) def. Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
4. Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) def. Smith Hinton (UA) 7-5, 6-3
5. Maddie Pothoff (UA) def. Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU) 7-6(3), 6-4
6. Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Juliana Valero (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
---HailState.com---
Players Mentioned
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