Nuno Borges led four MSU netters with a No. 2 preseason ranking
Bulldog Tennis Places Four In Preseason Rankings; Borges No. 2 In Singles
September 12, 2017 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After registering the program's most successful season since 1998 last spring and finishing ranked 18th nationally as a team, the Mississippi State men's tennis squad placed four players in the 2017-18 Intercollegiate tennis Association Preseason Individual Rankings, the ITA announced Tuesday.
Reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and NCAA Singles semifinalist Nuno Borges led State, ranking second nationally in singles, with Strahinja Rakic coming in at No. 67. In doubles, the tandem of Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey earned the No. 7 ranking.
By being ranked second in Tuesday's poll, the junior Borges earned the highest preseason rank by a Bulldog tennis player since fellow All-American Thomas Dupre' opened the 1997-98 season as the top-ranked player in the nation. At No. 7 in doubles, Braun and Foshey earned the highest preseason ranking by a Bulldog duo since Jordan Angus and Malte Stropp opened 2013-14 at No. 6 in the country.
"We are very excited to start competing this fall and to see our four juniors in the rankings shows how hard they have been training over the last two years," MSU coach Matt Roberts said. "It is great motivation for them and confirms that they are on the right track with their development. The upcoming tournaments will be great opportunities for our team to continue our development and they are excited to get the season underway."
The ITA also announced selections for the 2017 ITA All-American Championships, which will be hosted by the University of Tulsa in October for the 11th-straight year. Seven Bulldogs are featured in the event, highlighted by Borges in the 64-player singles main draw. The tournament kicks off with pre-qualifying matches starting on Sept. 30. Qualifying matches run from Oct. 2-3, while the main draw runs from Oct. 5-9.
Borges was the only MSU netter to earn a main draw spot in singles while joining his partner Rakic in doubles qualifying. Rakic, Foshey and Braun earned qualifying status in singles. State newcomer Florian Broska will take the court in the pre-qualifying phase.
Braun and Foshey, who reached the NCAA Round of 16 as a pair last season, were selected to the ITA All-American main draw in doubles for the second straight year.
Giovanni Oradini also earned a bid to the ITA All-American as the third alternate for the qualifying draw, while newcomer Hunter Harrison was selected as a pre-qualifying alternate.
Up Next For MSU
The Bulldogs begin fall action Sept. 22-24 at the Gator Ranked +1 tournament in Gainesville, Fla., and in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at the Crimson Tide Four-in-the-Fall Championships.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and NCAA Singles semifinalist Nuno Borges led State, ranking second nationally in singles, with Strahinja Rakic coming in at No. 67. In doubles, the tandem of Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey earned the No. 7 ranking.
By being ranked second in Tuesday's poll, the junior Borges earned the highest preseason rank by a Bulldog tennis player since fellow All-American Thomas Dupre' opened the 1997-98 season as the top-ranked player in the nation. At No. 7 in doubles, Braun and Foshey earned the highest preseason ranking by a Bulldog duo since Jordan Angus and Malte Stropp opened 2013-14 at No. 6 in the country.
"We are very excited to start competing this fall and to see our four juniors in the rankings shows how hard they have been training over the last two years," MSU coach Matt Roberts said. "It is great motivation for them and confirms that they are on the right track with their development. The upcoming tournaments will be great opportunities for our team to continue our development and they are excited to get the season underway."
The ITA also announced selections for the 2017 ITA All-American Championships, which will be hosted by the University of Tulsa in October for the 11th-straight year. Seven Bulldogs are featured in the event, highlighted by Borges in the 64-player singles main draw. The tournament kicks off with pre-qualifying matches starting on Sept. 30. Qualifying matches run from Oct. 2-3, while the main draw runs from Oct. 5-9.
Borges was the only MSU netter to earn a main draw spot in singles while joining his partner Rakic in doubles qualifying. Rakic, Foshey and Braun earned qualifying status in singles. State newcomer Florian Broska will take the court in the pre-qualifying phase.
Braun and Foshey, who reached the NCAA Round of 16 as a pair last season, were selected to the ITA All-American main draw in doubles for the second straight year.
Giovanni Oradini also earned a bid to the ITA All-American as the third alternate for the qualifying draw, while newcomer Hunter Harrison was selected as a pre-qualifying alternate.
Up Next For MSU
The Bulldogs begin fall action Sept. 22-24 at the Gator Ranked +1 tournament in Gainesville, Fla., and in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at the Crimson Tide Four-in-the-Fall Championships.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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