Broska Reaches Finals As Bulldogs Conclude Play at Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

Sunday, November 3

Dallas, Texas

All Day

Mississippi State

Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

Broska concludes tournament play at the Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge by reaching the doubles and singles final with a combined 9-2 mark on the week in doubles and singles..

Broska Reaches Finals As Bulldogs Conclude Play at Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge

November 03, 2019 | Men's Tennis

by Graham Murphree, Student Assistant/Communications

DALLAS, Texas – The Mississippi State men's tennis team can mark another fall tournament off the calendar as the Bulldogs leave the Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge with an impressive 16-10 mark on the weekend, highlighted by junior Florian Broska reaching the doubles and singles finals.

The second-seeded tandem of Broska and Nicolas Ocana continued their impressive doubles tournament Sunday as the pair met Jose Dominguez Alonso and Enrique Paya of Arkansas in the semifinals, prevailing 8-6. The Bulldogs then prepared for the championship match against top seeded Murkel Dellien and Marius Frosa of Wichita State. The Shocker pair proved too tough for the Bulldogs, notching an 8-4 triumph.

Following doubles, the final round of play in the Red Flight was staged as Broska looked to put himself in the playoff bracket for a chance to win the overall tournament crown. In the Red Flight title match, Broska sailed past Wichita State's Orel Ovil 6-0, 6-1.

In the first round of the playoffs – which featured all winners from main draw and consolation action battling in 10-point tiebreakers - Broska met SMU's Jan-Simon Vrbsky on his home court, winning 1-0(5). Broska then faced Baylor's Christopher Frantzen in the playoff semifinals, holding off the Bear 1-0(8). In the championship match, Broska's foe would be Carles Sarrio of tournament host SMU. The MSU junior battled until the end, ultimately falling 1-0(4). It was Broska's lone singles setback this weekend, which saw the Bulldog veteran go 6-1 overall in singles and 3-1 in doubles.

The remaining three true freshmen Bulldogs represented the Maroon and White well as they concluded action in consolation play Sunday.

Isaac Becroft met Enrique Paya of Arkansas and pulled out a tough three-set battle 6-4, 4-6, 1-0(3) in White Flight consolation action. Fellow freshman Nicolas Ocana, also in White Flight consolation, battled Tyler JC's Jeff Guerro and notched a 6-1, 6-4 victory. In Red Flight consolation, Davide Tortora faced Wichita State's Dellien, dropping a tight 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(3) decision.

Becroft and Tortora also teamed in the semifinals of doubles consolation, falling 6-3 to Will Peters and Kabir Sarita of Princeton.

Two Bulldogs – Giovanni Oradini and Gregor Ramskogler - will head to Newport Beach, California, this week (Nov. 6-10) for the prestigious Oracle ITA National Fall Championships. The event will conclude 2019 fall competition for the Bulldogs.

Oradini, ranked 24^th nationally, will represent the Maroon and White in the 64-player singles draw after qualifying earlier this year at the ITA All-American Championships with his impressive run to the quarterfinals. Sophomore Gregor Ramskogler will join Oradini in the draw after winning the singles crown at the 2019 ITA Southern Regional Championships two weeks ago.
MSU at the Ralston/Neufeld Coaches Challenge
November 3, 2019 – Dallas, Texas

DOUBLES
Semifinals - Florian Broska/Nicolas Ocana (MSU) [2] def. Jose Dominguez Alonso/Enrique Paya (Arkansas) 8-6
Finals - Murkel Dellien/Marius Frosa (Wichita State) [1] def. Florian Broska/Nicolas Ocana (MSU) [2] 8-4

Consolation - Will Peters/Kabir Sarita (Princeton) def. Isaac Becroft/Davide Tortora (MSU) 6-3

SINGLES
Red Flight
Finals - Florian Broska (MSU) def. Orel Ovil (Wichita State) 6-0, 6-1
Consolation - Murkel Dellien (Wichita State) def. Davide Tortora (MSU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(3)

White Flight
Consolation - Isaac Becroft (MSU) def. Enrique Paya (Arkansas) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0(3); Nicolas Ocana (MSU) def. Jeff Guerrero (Tyler JC) 6-1, 6-4

Playoffs
First Round - Broska (MSU) def. Jan-Simon Vrbsky (SMU) 1-0(5)
Semifinals - Broska (MSU) def. Christopher Frantzen (Baylor) 1-0(8)
Finals - Carles Sarrio (SMU) def. Broska (MSU) 1-0(4)

Tournament seedings are in brackets