Mississippi State
Tulane
No. 24 MSU Men’s Tennis Ousts Tulane 5-2 On The Road
February 21, 2021 | Men's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS, La. – It was a bright and sunny day in Louisiana as the 24th-ranked Mississippi State men's tennis team (9-1) produced another quality victory Sunday, claiming a 5-2 victory on the road over Tulane (6-3) at City Park Tennis Center. The very intense match featured three three-set affairs and three tiebreakers, with MSU claiming five of those six situations.
With the win, State won its fourth in a row while extending its overall record against Tulane to 16-7 (since 1969). MSU has now claimed seven out of the last eight meetings with the Green Wave (which was receiving votes in this week's Top 25 poll), including two this season (MSU also downed TU 5-2 in Starkville on Jan. 31).
"Today was a great team win that shows our guys that we are improving in doubles and having fun in the process," MSU head coach Matt Roberts said. "So much of what we do is eliminating the thought of a result and cancelling that with team support and having fun together. I think the guys are buying in to the enjoyment and the day to day together and thus eliminating any fears of failure and results. College tennis is a time to enjoy each other more than ever and improve along the way and today was a great road win that consolidates our process. If you enjoy training, traveling and competing together, then you are already winning."
The Bulldogs would start the match with great intensity as the Maroon and White claimed the opening doubles point to get the day started. On court 3, MSU's pair of Nemanja Malesevic and Nicolas Ocana cruised over TU's Luis Erlenbusch and Fynn Keunkler 6-3. Tulane would then tie things up on court 1, where Ewan Moore and Hamish Stewart would upend Bulldogs Alberto Colas and Giovanni Oradini 6-3. Securing the point for State would be court 2 as Florian Broska and Gregor Ramskogler took down Akon Kotorman and Billy Suarez 7-6(4) in a tight affair.
In singles action, Tulane did not back down, taking four of the six first sets to apply some pressure to the Bulldogs. However, State would claim three of the first four matches complete to clinch the victory.
Wrapping up first would be court 4, where MSU's Colas cruised comfortably over Tulane's Suarez 6-0, 6-2. The victory extended his team-leading singles win streak to 11 consecutive matches and the Bulldogs led the Green Wave 2-0 early on. Closing on the Bulldogs lead, Tulane would grab court 1 where the 40th-ranked Stewart upended State's 36th-ranked Oradini 7-5, 6-3.
Extending the Bulldogs lead to 3-1 - in a huge momentum swing in the match - would be Malesevic, who rallied from a set down to defeat the Green Wave's Erlenbusch 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 3 position. Clinching the match for State would be Hernandez who took down TU's Kuenkler 7-6(4), 6-3 after a critical first set at No. 5 to improve to 7-2 in his first semester as a Bulldog.
After State had clinched the win, the teams split the final two battles of the afternoon. On court 6, TU's Rafael De Alba would post a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the Bulldogs' Ramskogler. Wrapping up play would be State's 87th-ranked Broska on court 2, where the Bulldog veteran came back from a set down to best the Green Wave's 53rd-ranked Moore 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4. Broska remain undefeated (9-0) in dual match singles action this year while claiming his third ranked win in five outings.
Next upon on the slate, the Bulldogs stay on the road next weekend, as they will head to Knoxville, Tenn., to face No. 3 Tennessee on Friday, February 26, before heading to Athens, Ga., on Sunday, February 28, battling No. 12 Georgia.
No. 24 Mississippi State 5, Tulane 2
February 21, 2021
New Orleans, La. – City Park Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Ewan Moore/Hamish Stewart (TU) def. Alberto Colas/Giovanni Oradini (MSU) 6-3
2. Florian Broska/Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Akos Kotorman/Billy Suarez (TU) 7-6(4)
3. Nemanja Malesevic/Nicolas Ocana (MSU) def. Luis Erlenbusch/Fynn Kuenkler (TU) 6-3
Order of finish: 3,1,2
Singles
1. #40 Hamish Stewart (TU) def. #36 Giovanni Oradini (MSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. #87 Florian Broska (MSU) def. #53 Ewan Moore (TU) 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4
3. Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) def. Luis Erlenbusch (TU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
4. Alberto Colas (MSU) def. Billy Suarez (TU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Carles Hernandez (MSU) def. Fynn Kuenkler (TU) 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Rafael De Alba (TU) def. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 4,1,3,5,6,2
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Players Mentioned
