MSU Women’s Tennis Tallies Two Wins At H-E-B Invitational; Racine Set For ITAs

Friday, October 4

Waco, Texas

All Day

Mississippi State

H-E-B Invitational

MSU Women’s Tennis Tallies Two Wins At H-E-B Invitational; Racine Set For ITAs

October 04, 2019 | Women's Tennis

H-E-B Invitational Day 1 Results

by Mikaela Elizondo, Graduate Assistant/Communications

WACO, Texas/TULSA, Oklahoma – True freshman Marta Falceto recorded two wins for the Bulldogs Friday at the H-E-B Invitational in Waco, Texas, as she came out on top in round one of both the Green and Gold doubles draw and Gold singles draw.

"We had some good battles today," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "I was proud of Marta for fighting back to pick up a solid win over the Baylor player. It was also nice to see Valeria play her first competitive matches as a Bulldog. She is limited to only doubles this weekend but she is a fighter and I was happy to see her get her first collegiate victory."

Redshirt freshman Valeria Nikolaev made her collegiate debut for the Bulldogs in doubles with Falceto to start the day. The duo kicked off the event with a hard-fought tiebreak win, defeating Iowa State's Karen Alvarez and Baylor's Daria Rakitskaya 7-6(4). In round two, Falceto and Nikolaev fell to the Texas pair of Lexi Ryngler and Tijana Spasojevic 6-3.

In Gold draw singles competition later in the day, Falceto started off hot, defeating host Baylor's Anastasia Kharitonova in a tight three-set battle, 6-7(8), 6-4, 1-0(1). Falceto then dropped her Round of 16 match to Jasmin Starr from UTSA 7-5, 6-1. She will compete in a back draw match tomorrow afternoon.

Also in Gold draw action, MSU senior Sara Lizariturry was downed by Ryngler of Texas 6-1, 6-0 before falling to Josie Frazier of Illinois in the consolation draw 6-2, 7-6(1).

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, sophomore Bulldog Tamara Racine will begin ITA All-American Championships action in the prequalifying draw on Saturday. Her opening-round match is slated to start at 8 a.m. CT against Margarita Skryabina of Texas Tech.

For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

MSU Women's Tennis Results at the 2019 H-E-B Invitational
October 4, 2019 – Waco, Texas

DOUBLES
Green & Gold Draw
First Round – Marta Falceto/Valeria Nikolaev (MSU) def. Karen Alvarez (Iowa State) /Daria Rakitskaya (Baylor) 7-6(4)
Round of 16 – Lexi Ryngler/Tijana Spasojevic (Texas) def. Falceto/Lizariturry (MSU) 6-3

SINGLES
Gold Draw
First Round – Ryngler (Texas) def. Sara Lizariturry (MSU) 6-1, 6-0; Marta Falceto (MSU) def. Anastasia Kharitonova (Baylor) 6-7(8), 6-4, 1-0(1)
Round of 16 – Jasmin Starr (UTSA) def Falceto (MSU) 7-5, 6-1

Gold Draw Consolation
First Round – Josie Frazier (Illinois) def. Lizariturry (MSU) 6-2, 7-6(1)