Bulldogs Finish Strong At Tempe Collegiate Cup

Saturday, January 12

Tempe, Ariz.

All Day

Mississippi State

Tempe Collegiate Cup

MSU closed out a three-day round-robin event Saturday in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics

Bulldogs Finish Strong At Tempe Collegiate Cup

January 12, 2019 | Men's Tennis

by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communication

TEMPE, Ariz. – Four singles wins highlighted a strong finish by members of the Mississippi State men's tennis team on Saturday, closing out competition at the Tempe Collegiate Cup.

Three of MSU's singles wins came against opponents from Arizona State, while one came against a foe from TCU, Friday's main opponent. In doubles, the Bulldogs split four matches.

Seventh-ranked Niclas Braun and Giovanni Oradini closed out their weekend by pulling out a tough 7-6(3) victory over Arizona State's Makey Rakotomalala and Justin Roberts. Bulldogs Gregor Ramskogler and Stedman Strickland also notched another doubles triumph, defeating TCU's Bertus Kruger and Eduardo Roldan 6-3.

MSU's 36th-ranked Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic dropped a hard-fought 7-5 decision to Sun Devils Dominik Kellovsky and Nathan Ponwith. ASU's Andrea Bolla and Tim Ruehl downed Florian Broska and Trevor Foshey 6-4.

On the singles side, the 11th-ranked Borges moved back into the win column with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win against Kellovsky. Oradini also posted a victory, earning it in straight-set fashion against Roberts 6-1, 7-6(5). Closing out MSU victories against ASU opponents was Rakic, who defeated Rakotomalala in comeback fashion 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Ponwith and Bolla were the two Sun Devils who posted wins over Bulldogs, defeating No. 67 Braun and No. 78 Broska, respectively.

State's 93rd-ranked senior Foshey posted a quick 7-5, 6-2 win against TCU's Sander Jong, while Ramskogler dropped a tough three-set decision to the Horned Frogs' Bertus Kruger.

Next Up For MSU …

The Bulldogs will open their 2019 dual match slate Jan. 26-27 by hosting the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. State will start the four-team event against Wichita State at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, followed by a second match against either Arizona or UNC Wilmington the next day.

For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

MSU at the 2019 Tempe Collegiate Cup
January 12, 2019 – Tempe, Arizona (Kiwanis Tennis Center)

Doubles
Dominik Kellovsky/Nathan Ponwith (ASU) def. #36 Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) 7-5; #7 Niclas Braun/Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Makey Rakotomalala/Justin Roberts (ASU) 7-6(3); Andrea Bolla/Tim Ruehl (ASU) def. Florian Broska/Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-4; Gregor Ramskogler/Stedman Strickland (MSU) def. Bertus Kruger/Eduardo Roldan (TCU) 6-3

Singles
#11 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. Dominik Kellovsky (ASU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Justin Roberts (ASU) 6-1, 7-6(5); Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5; Nathan Ponwith (ASU) def. #67 Niclas Braun (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. #78 Florian Broska (MSU) 6-3, 6-4; Bertus Kruger (TCU) def. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) 7-6, 2-6, 1-0(3); #93 Trevor Foshey (MSU) def. Sander Jong (TCU) 7-5, 6-2