Saturday, January 25
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Georgia
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
MSU Hosts 2020 ITA Kick-Off Weekend; Opens Vs. Georgia Saturday
January 24, 2020 | Men's Tennis
by Graham Murphree, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – For the Mississippi State men's tennis team, this weekend is more than hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's 2020 Kick-Off Weekend, it is about showing the nation that - even with a lineup of fresh faces - the Bulldogs are still a force to reckon with.
The 2018 and 2019 SEC Tournament Champion Bulldogs (4-1) open up the 2020 ITA Kick-Off Weekend against No. 19 Georgia (1-0) on Saturday. First serve in the battle of the Bulldogs is set for not before 1 p.m. CT. No. 15 South Carolina (3-0) and No. 22 Oklahoma (3-1) will open the event at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. All Kick-Off Weekend matches are slated to be played at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and admission is free.
"If you like college tennis, then this is one weekend you do not want to miss as you can witness four premier programs battle it out to book a spot at the ITA National Indoor Championship," Mississippi State head coach Matt Roberts said. "All programs represented this weekend have a great team history. This weekend will be a great challenge to all teams competing to advance to Wisconsin. The ITA Kick-Off Weekend is a great opportunity for our team to develop more confidence as we teach our young Bulldogs how to compete against anyone in the country. We are excited to have the home court advantage and get the opportunity to play in front of some of the best college tennis fans in the nation."
This is MSU's 11th appearance in one of the ITA's marquee events, which features the top teams in collegiate tennis. All are vying for one of 15 spots in the 2020 ITA National Team Indoor Championship, to be held Feb. 14-17 in Madison, Wisc.
MSU In The Oracle ITA Rankings …
Mississippi State is currently receiving votes nationally, sitting just outside the latest ITA national Top 25 released this week. In the ITA national singles rankings, two-time All-America senior Giovanni Oradini paces the Bulldogs at No. 15 in the country. True freshman Davide Tortora leads the next generation of Bulldogs, sitting at No. 101.
Know The Foe: ITA Kick-Off Weekend
Georgia (1-0) enters the weekend after an 8-1 victory over Kennesaw State on Monday to open 2020. The Athens-based Bulldogs are currently ranked 19th nationally. Last season, UGA finished 14-11, reaching the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Bulldogs are led in singles by Trent Bryde, who is currently ranked 57th nationally. Following behind him is Phillip Henning, who is currently ranked 12th nationally. UGA also has the duo of Blake Croyder and Phillip Henning ranked 17th nationally in doubles.
No. 15 South Carolina is the highest-ranked team in this weekend's field and comes into Starkville undefeated (3-0) early in its 2020 campaign with two 7-0 wins over the Citadel and a 6-1 triumph against Charlotte. The Gamecocks finished last season 18-10, while reaching the NCAA second round. USC is led by senior and 2019 NCAA Singles Champion Paul Jubb. Behind him are three ranked singles players in Daniel Rodrigues (21st)), Raphael Lambling (39th) and Connor Thomson (106th). In doubles, Lambling and Daniel Rodriguez lead the way at No. 39.
Oklahoma, ranked 22nd, is 3-1, coming off of a 4-0 victory over Oral Roberts. Last season, the Sooners finished 17-11 and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. OU is led by sophomore Mason Beiler at No. 50 nationally in singles, followed by senior Jochen Bertsch at No. 116.
Need To Know …
2020 ITA Kick-Off Weekend Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 25
10:30 a.m. CT – No. 22 Oklahoma (3-1) vs. No. 15 South Carolina (3-0)
not before 1 p.m. CT – Mississippi State (4-1) vs. No. 19 Georgia (1-0)
Sunday, Jan. 26
10 a.m. CT – Consolation match
not before 1 p.m. CT – Championship match
Next Up For MSU …
Following the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, the Bulldogs travel to the Sunshine state to battle against South Florida (Jan. 31) and Miami (Feb. 2).
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
STARKVILLE – For the Mississippi State men's tennis team, this weekend is more than hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's 2020 Kick-Off Weekend, it is about showing the nation that - even with a lineup of fresh faces - the Bulldogs are still a force to reckon with.
The 2018 and 2019 SEC Tournament Champion Bulldogs (4-1) open up the 2020 ITA Kick-Off Weekend against No. 19 Georgia (1-0) on Saturday. First serve in the battle of the Bulldogs is set for not before 1 p.m. CT. No. 15 South Carolina (3-0) and No. 22 Oklahoma (3-1) will open the event at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. All Kick-Off Weekend matches are slated to be played at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and admission is free.
"If you like college tennis, then this is one weekend you do not want to miss as you can witness four premier programs battle it out to book a spot at the ITA National Indoor Championship," Mississippi State head coach Matt Roberts said. "All programs represented this weekend have a great team history. This weekend will be a great challenge to all teams competing to advance to Wisconsin. The ITA Kick-Off Weekend is a great opportunity for our team to develop more confidence as we teach our young Bulldogs how to compete against anyone in the country. We are excited to have the home court advantage and get the opportunity to play in front of some of the best college tennis fans in the nation."
This is MSU's 11th appearance in one of the ITA's marquee events, which features the top teams in collegiate tennis. All are vying for one of 15 spots in the 2020 ITA National Team Indoor Championship, to be held Feb. 14-17 in Madison, Wisc.
MSU In The Oracle ITA Rankings …
Mississippi State is currently receiving votes nationally, sitting just outside the latest ITA national Top 25 released this week. In the ITA national singles rankings, two-time All-America senior Giovanni Oradini paces the Bulldogs at No. 15 in the country. True freshman Davide Tortora leads the next generation of Bulldogs, sitting at No. 101.
Know The Foe: ITA Kick-Off Weekend
Georgia (1-0) enters the weekend after an 8-1 victory over Kennesaw State on Monday to open 2020. The Athens-based Bulldogs are currently ranked 19th nationally. Last season, UGA finished 14-11, reaching the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Bulldogs are led in singles by Trent Bryde, who is currently ranked 57th nationally. Following behind him is Phillip Henning, who is currently ranked 12th nationally. UGA also has the duo of Blake Croyder and Phillip Henning ranked 17th nationally in doubles.
No. 15 South Carolina is the highest-ranked team in this weekend's field and comes into Starkville undefeated (3-0) early in its 2020 campaign with two 7-0 wins over the Citadel and a 6-1 triumph against Charlotte. The Gamecocks finished last season 18-10, while reaching the NCAA second round. USC is led by senior and 2019 NCAA Singles Champion Paul Jubb. Behind him are three ranked singles players in Daniel Rodrigues (21st)), Raphael Lambling (39th) and Connor Thomson (106th). In doubles, Lambling and Daniel Rodriguez lead the way at No. 39.
Oklahoma, ranked 22nd, is 3-1, coming off of a 4-0 victory over Oral Roberts. Last season, the Sooners finished 17-11 and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. OU is led by sophomore Mason Beiler at No. 50 nationally in singles, followed by senior Jochen Bertsch at No. 116.
Need To Know …
- MSU has won its last 27 non-conference matches at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. Under Roberts, the Bulldogs are 61-7 at home.
- The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, this year marking their fourth as a host.
- State holds an 13-7 mark in previous ITA Kick-Off Weekends and has advanced to the National Team Indoor Championship three times since the Kick-Off Weekend was started in 2009.
- MSU also qualified for the National Indoors eight-straight seasons (1992-99) when the event only showcased the nation's top 16 teams.
2020 ITA Kick-Off Weekend Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 25
10:30 a.m. CT – No. 22 Oklahoma (3-1) vs. No. 15 South Carolina (3-0)
not before 1 p.m. CT – Mississippi State (4-1) vs. No. 19 Georgia (1-0)
Sunday, Jan. 26
10 a.m. CT – Consolation match
not before 1 p.m. CT – Championship match
Next Up For MSU …
Following the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, the Bulldogs travel to the Sunshine state to battle against South Florida (Jan. 31) and Miami (Feb. 2).
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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