Wednesday, April 17
College Station, Texas
10:00 AM
Mississippi State
vs
Auburn
MSU Women’s Tennis To Meet Auburn In SEC Championship Opener Wednesday
April 16, 2019 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – In wake of Sunday's upset matchup in Starkville, now 49th-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis (13-12, 4-9 SEC) will matchup with the Auburn Tigers (14-14, 1-12) in the first round of the 2019 SEC Championship, being hosted by Texas A&M. The Bulldogs and Tigers will square off at 10 a.m. CT at A&M's Mitchell Tennis Center.
During the regular season, MSU toppled then 39th-ranked Auburn in Starkville 4-2. State downed three ranked opponents this season. During opening weekend of SEC action, MSU ousted Florida (now ranked 24th) for the first time in program history, then downed Auburn at home in March. This past Sunday, the Bulldogs upended 28th-ranked LSU in 4-3, comeback style to earn an exciting Senior Day triumph.
Bulldogs In The Oracle ITA Rankings …
MSU broke back into the national rankings after Sunday's victory over LSU. The Bulldogs are the 49th-ranked squad in the nation.
State true freshman Emma Antonaki has consistently been among the nation's ranked singles players this season. The rookie currently stands 67th in the country, leading the team with 24 overall singles wins through fall tournament action and dual match play. Antonaki retains an 8-6 record against ranked opponents, 4-3 against top 60 contenders. The rookie is a remarkable 16-6 in dual matches this spring, all at the top two positions in the lineup.
State's doubles duo of Magda Adalogou and Tamara Racine have also held a spot in the rankings for the last several weeks. Now ranked 61st in the country, the Bulldog tandem holds an 8-7 ledger in dual-match action.
Know The Foe: Auburn
The Auburn Tigers hold a 14-14 ledger in 2019 dual match play. Conversely, the Tigers are 1-12 in SEC action on the year. In 2018, Auburn earned a 21-10 overall mark, 9-5 in conference play, advancing to the NCAA Championship. The teams have met only twice ever in the SEC Championship and have split those two decisions. Wednesday will be the first such meeting since 2002.
The Tigers' Jaeda Daniel is currently Auburn's lone ranked singles player (87th), with Sophia Graver and Taylor Russo holding the 40th-ranked slot in doubles.
Need To Know …
Live scoring for Wednesday's match can be found HERE.
Last Time Out For MSU …
In a Senior Day shootout, MSU toppled 28th-ranked LSU at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville this past Sunday. Down 3-0 early, State rallied to win the last four matches. The day was highlighted by seniors Anastasia Rentouli and Janina Braun provided two of those four triumphs, Braun's clutch three-set clincher on court five sealing the match for the Bulldogs.
Next Up For MSU …
If the Bulldogs surpass the Tigers in the first round of the SEC Tournament Wednesday, State will take on the homestanding, fifth-seeded and 19th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies at 2 p.m. CT in Thursday's second round. Last Thursday evening, MSU fell in a tight 4-2 affair to the Aggies in Starkville.
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
During the regular season, MSU toppled then 39th-ranked Auburn in Starkville 4-2. State downed three ranked opponents this season. During opening weekend of SEC action, MSU ousted Florida (now ranked 24th) for the first time in program history, then downed Auburn at home in March. This past Sunday, the Bulldogs upended 28th-ranked LSU in 4-3, comeback style to earn an exciting Senior Day triumph.
Bulldogs In The Oracle ITA Rankings …
MSU broke back into the national rankings after Sunday's victory over LSU. The Bulldogs are the 49th-ranked squad in the nation.
State true freshman Emma Antonaki has consistently been among the nation's ranked singles players this season. The rookie currently stands 67th in the country, leading the team with 24 overall singles wins through fall tournament action and dual match play. Antonaki retains an 8-6 record against ranked opponents, 4-3 against top 60 contenders. The rookie is a remarkable 16-6 in dual matches this spring, all at the top two positions in the lineup.
State's doubles duo of Magda Adalogou and Tamara Racine have also held a spot in the rankings for the last several weeks. Now ranked 61st in the country, the Bulldog tandem holds an 8-7 ledger in dual-match action.
Know The Foe: Auburn
The Auburn Tigers hold a 14-14 ledger in 2019 dual match play. Conversely, the Tigers are 1-12 in SEC action on the year. In 2018, Auburn earned a 21-10 overall mark, 9-5 in conference play, advancing to the NCAA Championship. The teams have met only twice ever in the SEC Championship and have split those two decisions. Wednesday will be the first such meeting since 2002.
The Tigers' Jaeda Daniel is currently Auburn's lone ranked singles player (87th), with Sophia Graver and Taylor Russo holding the 40th-ranked slot in doubles.
Need To Know …
- Mississippi State is playing its 45th season of women's tennis, with Daryl Greenan in his 10th season at the helm.
- In 2018, 39th-ranked State fell in the first round of the SEC Tournament to 30th-ranked LSU (4-3) on April 19, 2018
- The series between MSU and Auburn dates back to 1976, with the Tigers holding a 30-16 lead.
- The Bulldogs and Tigers will meet for the first time in series history in College Station, Texas. The teams are tied 1-1 at neutral sites, both coming in the SEC Championship (1991, 2002).
- In the most recent meeting, MSU downed Auburn in a 4-2 decision in Starkville on March 14, 2019, in Starkville.
- The last time MSU met Auburn in the SEC Tournament was April 18, 2002, where the Tigers took a 4-1 decision over the Bulldogs
- True freshman Emma Antonaki leads the Bulldogs in overall singles wins (24) an dual match singles wins (16)
- Senior Anastasia Rentouli currently stands 4th all-time at MSU in total career victories (149), 2nd in singles wins (86) and t3rd in doubles triumphs (63).
- Rentouli leads State in overall winning percentage (23-6, .793) and dual match winning percentage (14-2, .875) this season.
- Senior Janina Braun paces the Bulldogs in doubles wins (21) in 2018-19
Live scoring for Wednesday's match can be found HERE.
Last Time Out For MSU …
In a Senior Day shootout, MSU toppled 28th-ranked LSU at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville this past Sunday. Down 3-0 early, State rallied to win the last four matches. The day was highlighted by seniors Anastasia Rentouli and Janina Braun provided two of those four triumphs, Braun's clutch three-set clincher on court five sealing the match for the Bulldogs.
Next Up For MSU …
If the Bulldogs surpass the Tigers in the first round of the SEC Tournament Wednesday, State will take on the homestanding, fifth-seeded and 19th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies at 2 p.m. CT in Thursday's second round. Last Thursday evening, MSU fell in a tight 4-2 affair to the Aggies in Starkville.
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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