Broska Collects Two Wins As MSU Starts Play At Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

Friday, November 1

Dallas, Texas

All Day

Mississippi State

Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

Junior Florian Broska highlighted the day by going undefeated (2-0) in singles and doubles play

Broska Collects Two Wins As MSU Starts Play At Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

November 01, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Raltson Neufeld Coaches Challenge Day 2 Draws

by Graham Murphree, Student Assistant/Communications

DALLAS, Texas – The Mississippi State men's tennis opened play at the Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge Friday with the Bulldogs going an even 3-3 on the day, with junior Florian Broska going undefeated in doubles and singles.

Doubles play highlighted the morning as the No. 2 seed of Broska and Nicolas Ocana paired up for the first time ever. The tandem received a first-round bye and then met UT Arlington's Alejandro Haven and Alan Sau Franco. The Bulldog duo battled through to win an 8-5 affair and will play tomorrow against Wichita State's Stefan Latinovic and Bruno Serra at 9 a.m. CT in the quarterfinals.

Continuing with that winning feeling would be Broska. Meeting Ethan Leon of tourney host SMU in the first round of Red Flight singles, Broska easily captured a 6-1, 6-3 affair. He will play again tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT against Texas Tech's Ilgiz Valiev in quarterfinal action.

After a solid doubles match to start the day, Ocana looked to continue his performance as he faced Rice's Campbell Salmon in the first round of the White Flight. The true freshmen took the match to a three-set affair, but ultimately fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Ocana will continue play in the consolation bracket versus Princeton's Bill Duo at Noon CT on Saturday.

The all-rookie State duo of Isaac Becroft and Davide Tortora also teamed up for the first time, taking on Princeton's Payton Holden and Davey Roberts in the Round of 16 after receiving a first-round bye. The freshmen duo battled strong but was edged 8-6 by the senior duo. They will compete in consolation action Saturday.

Tortora, who reached the singles semifinals of the ITA Southern Regionals two weekends ago, looked to continue his impressive freshmen fall campaign. Facing Princeton's Roberts in the Red Flight, Tortora battled like he has all season long and dug out a hard-fought three-set affair 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. He will play again tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT, meeting Caleb Chakravarthi of SMU in the quarterfinals.

Becroft's singles match came against another Princeton foe in Thomas Bosancic in the White Flight. The freshman dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision and will now play in the consolation bracket against SMU's Carles Sarrio at Noon CT Saturday.

MSU at the Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge
November 1, 2019 – Dallas, Texas

DOUBLES
Round of 16 - Florian Broska/Nicolas Ocana (MSU) [2] def. Alejandro Hayen/Alan Sau Franco (UT Arlington) 8-5; Payton Holden/Davey Roberts (Princeton) def. Isaac Becroft/Davide Tortora (MSU) 8-6

SINGLES
Red Flight
First Round – Davide Tortora (MSU) def. Davey Roberts (Princeton) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Florian Broska (MSU) def. Ethan Leon (SMU) 6-1, 6-3

White Flight
First Round – Thomas Bosancic (Princeton) def. Isaac Becroft (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; Campbell Salmon (Rice) def. Nicolas Ocana (MSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Tournament seedings are in brackets