Bulldogs’ Women’s Tennis Set To Host Arkansas In Sunday Matinee

Sunday, March 31

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

Arkansas

Following a hard-fought victory over Missouri on Friday, Mississippi State’s women’s tennis team (12-8, 3-5 SEC) will welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks (9-10, 2-6) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

Bulldogs’ Women’s Tennis Set To Host Arkansas In Sunday Matinee

March 30, 2019 | Women's Tennis

Live Video/Stats

by Emily Pschigoda, Student Assistant/Communications

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following a hard-fought victory over Missouri on Friday, Mississippi State's women's tennis team (12-8, 3-5 SEC) will welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks (9-10, 2-6) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

In 2019 dual-match action, State is a remarkable 9-1 at the Pitts Tennis Centre, outscoring opponents 49-9 at home. MSU's most notable SEC victories this season included a program-first triumph over the Florida Gators in Gainesville (Mar. 3) in an exciting 4-3 affair and a tough 4-2 decision over 39^th-ranked Auburn in Starkville (Mar. 15).

Bulldogs In The Oracle ITA Rankings …
State true freshman Emma Antonaki has consistently been among the nation's ranked singles players this season. The rookie currently stands 82nd in the country, holding a team-leading 23-8 overall singles mark through fall tournament action and dual match play. Antonaki retains a 6-3 record against ranked opponents, 4-1 against top 60 contenders. From Feb. 9-March 3, she maintained a team-leading, 11-match win streak, overturning two top 40 contenders in the process. The rookie is an incredible 15-3 in dual matches this spring, which also leads the Bulldogs.

Know The Foe: Arkansas
Arkansas is 9-10 overall in 2019, 2-6 in conference play, and is coming off a 4-2 road win at Ole Miss Friday. In 2018, Arkansas was 16-16 overall, 3-10 in SEC action. In the last meeting between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs, State edged Arkansas 4-3 in Fayetteville on March 25, 2018. The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings with the Razorbacks and six of the last eight.

Arkansas's Tatum Rice is the nation's 79^th-ranked singles player, holding an 13-10 overall record in singles. The country's 115^th-ranked player is also a Razorback in Martina Zerulo. The sophomore boasts a 14-11 overall record.

Need To Know …

Mississippi State is playing its 45^th season of women's tennis, with Daryl Greenan in his 10th season at the helm.
The series between MSU and Arkansas dates back to 1992. The series is an even 14-14 heading into Sunday's match.
The teams will meet for the 14th time overall in Starkville, with State leading 7-6 at home.
In the most recent meeting, MSU outlasted the Razorbacks in a 4-3 decision in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on March 25, 2018.
The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings with the Razorbacks and six of the last eight.
True freshman Emma Antonaki leads the Bulldogs in singles wins (23) and also paces the Bulldogs with 15 dual match wins.
Senior Anastasia Rentouli currently stands 4th all-time at MSU in total career victories (145), 2nd in singles wins (83). She leads State in overall winning percentage (20-5, .800) and dual match (11-1, .917) this season.
State is 33-15 in dual match doubles play this spring, led by Janina Braun and Sara Lizariturry with an 9-1 mark at No. 3. The duo has won five-straight and is 12-1 overall in 2018-19.

Live Video/Scoring
Live video and scoring for Sunday's match can be found here.

Last Time Out For MSU …
After dropping the doubles point, MSU rallied to overturn the Missouri Tigers (13-9, 0-8) 4-2 on Friday in Starkville, which lifted the Bulldogs to a 9-1 mark in Starkville this season. State claimed two three-set wins down the stretch to secure the victory.

Next Up For MSU …
State will travel to fifth-ranked Vanderbilt to battle the Commodores at 3:30 p.m. CT Friday, April 5, at the Currey Tennis Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt is 12-5 on the season, 7-2 in conference action. In 2018, State upset the second-ranked Commodores 4-3 in Starkville, which marked the highest-ranked victory in MSU tennis history (men's or women's).

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