Thursday, April 18
College Station, Texas
4:00 PM
Mississippi State
3
at
4
Texas A&M
Senior Anastasia Rentouli posted a remarkable three-set comeback win Thursday.
Photo by: Russell James / Texas A&M Athletics
MSU Falls At No. 19 Texas A&M In 4-3 Heartbreaker At SEC Championship
April 18, 2019 | Women's Tennis
College Station, Texas – Despite an incredible effort in a match that went to the wire, Mississippi State's women's tennis squad (14-13) fell in a heart-wrenching, 4-3 decision to 19th-ranked tournament host Texas A&M (21-6) in the second round of the SEC Championship Thursday. Unstable weather delayed the start of the match nearly three hours to 4:45 p.m. CT, when the Bulldogs and Aggies took the court to battle as the wind and rain cleared.
In the regular season, MSU met A&M in a close matchup just last Thursday night in Starkville. The Aggies held off the Bulldogs in that meeting 4-2, but State felt confident going into this affair despite it being in Aggie territory and part of the SEC tourney. And State would put up quite a fight.
In doubles, the 12th-seeded Bulldogs fought the fifth-seeded Aggies to the final moments. On court two, State's Emma Antonaki and Anastasia Rentouli were downed by A&M's Renee McBryde and Katya Townsend. Almost simultaneously, MSU's tandem of Janina Braun and Sara Lizariturry evened things by ousting Aggies Riley McQuaid and Lucia Quiterio 6-3 on court three.
With the doubles point on the line, the Bulldogs' 61st-ranked Magda Adaloglou and Tamara Racine battled in a tight match with the Aggies' Jayci Goldsmith and Tatiana Makarova at No. 1. A&M ultimately fended off State's
duo 7-5, giving the homestanding squad the edge heading into singles.
In singles action, the teams split first sets at the outset and the Aggies went up 2-0 early when State's 67th-ranked rookie Antonaki fell to the 54th-ranked Townsend 6-2, 6-2 on court one. MSU's sophomore Adaloglou answered by overpowering A&M's Makarova 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3. Handing A&M a 3-1 advantage, McBryde overturned the Bulldog rookie Racine in a 6-2, 6-3 decision at No. 4, leaving the Bulldogs in need of all three remaining matches for the victory.
On court five, State's senior Braun ousted A&M's McQuaid 6-2, 6-4 for her fourth victory in a row, putting the Bulldogs in reach yet again.
In an incredible comeback effort, MSU's Rentouli put together a rally that highlighted the day for MSU as she upset the Aggies' 69th-ranked Goldsmith at No. 2. Trailing 6-1, 5-2 in the match, the senior captain battled to win five straight games and take the second set 7-5, saving multiple match points during that run. Rentouli persevered through the third to ultimately take a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.
With the match now tied 3-3, all focus shifted to court six. State's junior Lizariturry had muscled through to take a first-set tiebreak from A&M's Quiterio early, then the Aggie answered with a tiebreak win of her own to force a match-deciding third frame. With both squads looking on from the neighboring court, Quiterio grabbed a couple of close games in the decisive set to lead to a 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 triumph to seal the match.
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#19 Texas A&M 4, #49 Mississippi State 3
2019 SEC Championship – Second Round
April 18, 2019
College Station, Texas – Mitchell Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Jayci Goldsmith/Tatiana Makarova (TAMU) def. No. 61 Magda Adaloglou/Tamara Racine (MSU) 7-5
2. Renee McBryde/Katya Townsend (TAMU) def. Emma Antonaki/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 6-1
3. Janina Braun/Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Riley McQuaid/Lucia Quiterio (TAMU) 6-3
Order of finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. No. 54 Townsend (TAMU) def. No. 67 Antonaki (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rentouli (MSU) def. No. 69 Goldsmith (TAMU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Adaloglou (MSU) def. Makarova (TAMU) 6-1, 6-4
4. McBryde (TAMU) def. Racine (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Braun (MSU) def. McQuaid (TAMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Quiterio (TAMU) def. Lizariturry (MSU) 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2
Order of finish: 1,3,4,5,2,6
In the regular season, MSU met A&M in a close matchup just last Thursday night in Starkville. The Aggies held off the Bulldogs in that meeting 4-2, but State felt confident going into this affair despite it being in Aggie territory and part of the SEC tourney. And State would put up quite a fight.
In doubles, the 12th-seeded Bulldogs fought the fifth-seeded Aggies to the final moments. On court two, State's Emma Antonaki and Anastasia Rentouli were downed by A&M's Renee McBryde and Katya Townsend. Almost simultaneously, MSU's tandem of Janina Braun and Sara Lizariturry evened things by ousting Aggies Riley McQuaid and Lucia Quiterio 6-3 on court three.
With the doubles point on the line, the Bulldogs' 61st-ranked Magda Adaloglou and Tamara Racine battled in a tight match with the Aggies' Jayci Goldsmith and Tatiana Makarova at No. 1. A&M ultimately fended off State's
duo 7-5, giving the homestanding squad the edge heading into singles.
In singles action, the teams split first sets at the outset and the Aggies went up 2-0 early when State's 67th-ranked rookie Antonaki fell to the 54th-ranked Townsend 6-2, 6-2 on court one. MSU's sophomore Adaloglou answered by overpowering A&M's Makarova 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3. Handing A&M a 3-1 advantage, McBryde overturned the Bulldog rookie Racine in a 6-2, 6-3 decision at No. 4, leaving the Bulldogs in need of all three remaining matches for the victory.
On court five, State's senior Braun ousted A&M's McQuaid 6-2, 6-4 for her fourth victory in a row, putting the Bulldogs in reach yet again.
In an incredible comeback effort, MSU's Rentouli put together a rally that highlighted the day for MSU as she upset the Aggies' 69th-ranked Goldsmith at No. 2. Trailing 6-1, 5-2 in the match, the senior captain battled to win five straight games and take the second set 7-5, saving multiple match points during that run. Rentouli persevered through the third to ultimately take a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.
With the match now tied 3-3, all focus shifted to court six. State's junior Lizariturry had muscled through to take a first-set tiebreak from A&M's Quiterio early, then the Aggie answered with a tiebreak win of her own to force a match-deciding third frame. With both squads looking on from the neighboring court, Quiterio grabbed a couple of close games in the decisive set to lead to a 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 triumph to seal the match.
"That was an unbelievable effort from our Bulldogs," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "It was heartbreaking to lose in the end, but I am proud of the way we fought and gave ourselves a chance."
"We had so many close wins and close losses this season. Looking back, we were within points of winning several matches that would have put us in the NCAA Tournament. I felt like we finished the year strong though, and I think our returners gained a lot of experience that will help us moving forward. I am thankful for, and proud of, our seniors. They finished strong and did everything they could to make the most out of their final year of college tennis."
Social MediaFor more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#19 Texas A&M 4, #49 Mississippi State 3
2019 SEC Championship – Second Round
April 18, 2019
College Station, Texas – Mitchell Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Jayci Goldsmith/Tatiana Makarova (TAMU) def. No. 61 Magda Adaloglou/Tamara Racine (MSU) 7-5
2. Renee McBryde/Katya Townsend (TAMU) def. Emma Antonaki/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 6-1
3. Janina Braun/Sara Lizariturry (MSU) def. Riley McQuaid/Lucia Quiterio (TAMU) 6-3
Order of finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. No. 54 Townsend (TAMU) def. No. 67 Antonaki (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rentouli (MSU) def. No. 69 Goldsmith (TAMU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Adaloglou (MSU) def. Makarova (TAMU) 6-1, 6-4
4. McBryde (TAMU) def. Racine (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Braun (MSU) def. McQuaid (TAMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Quiterio (TAMU) def. Lizariturry (MSU) 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2
Order of finish: 1,3,4,5,2,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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