MSU Women’s Tennis To Enter Loaded Field At Arizona State’s Thunderbird Classic
November 08, 2018 | Women's Tennis
by Emily Pschigoda, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Mississippi State women's tennis quartet will close out the Bulldogs' fall tournament trek this weekend (Nov. 9-11) at the 24th annual Thunderbird Classic in Tempe, Arizona. Competition will feature a diverse pool of 12 nationwide programs, including host Arizona State, over the three-day event.
Over half the programs with players entered are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018, with 10 teams ending last season ranked in the top 60. MSU is included in that group with its fourth-straight NCAA bid last season while finishing ranked 29th nationally.
Singles action will commence at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
Magda Adaloglou, Emma Antonaki, Sara Lizariturry and Anastasia Rentouli will represent the Maroon & White in the Grand Canyon State.
The veteran Lizariturry seeks to take her second straight 10-win season in fall singles. State's lone junior has captured two flight titles so far this autumn, taking crowns at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic and SMU Invite.
MSU's senior captain Rentouli will compete in her final fall tournament by opening singles action on Friday. The 125th-ranked Rentouli holds a 7-3 fall mark leading into the weekend.
The sophomore Adaloglou is 5-5 this fall while the true freshman Antonaki is 6-4 in her first semester as a Bulldog, most recently pacing State with Rentouli, each by reaching the quarterfinals of the ITA Southern Regional Championships.
State will feature two pairs in doubles play on Friday, which will directly follow singles competition. Players will compete in one round of singles and tandem action each day.
The Bulldogs' Adaloglou and Lizariturry will pair in Friday's doubles, a pair not yet seen in action this fall. Antonaki and Rentouli will also represent MSU for the first time in tandem play.
Due to the unique tournament format, all pairings are subject to change throughout the weekend. Saturday and Sunday will follow in Friday's style, with singles to precede doubles contests.
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