Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
'One Heck Of A Ride'
January 26, 2022 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – In most instances, Magda Adaloglou's collegiate career would have come to a close last spring.
But thanks to student-athletes being awarded another year of eligibility by the NCAA due to the 2020 season being cut short, Adaloglou is back for her fifth year playing tennis at Mississippi State.
"The last four years have been the best and very helpful for my growth as a person and my growth in tennis," Adaloglou said. "It's been amazing and I couldn't be more thankful for this extra year and the opportunity I get to compete again for my team, for the school Mississippi State and also graduate. I'm very grateful."
And Adaloglou is bound and determined to make her final season her best for the Bulldogs coming off a year in which she finished as a second team All-SEC selection. The Veria, Greece native enters her "super" senior year ranked 67th in the ITA standings as a singles competitor and No. 28 in doubles along with partner Chloé Cirotte.
Adaloglou began the spring slate in the No. 1 position in lineup and beat Carolina Bulatovic of Jacksonville State in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in MSU's opening match. She is also undefeated at 3-0 in doubles, only allowing five total points to be scored against her and Cirotte.
"I've had a solid start," Adaloglou said. "I've been working very, very hard. I think that is helping me. Staying healthy is the priority. But I really believe and feel that I'm going to have a great year in tennis."
Adaloglou's work ethic was engrained in her since she arrived in Starkville in the fall of 2017. By the fall of her sophomore season, Adaloglou had risen to No. 56 nationally and has been a staple in the rankings her whole career.
"It's just hard to find a kid who loves Mississippi State, her teammates and her coaches as much as she does," said associate head coach Sachin Kirtane. "It's been a long journey for her. She was all over the place when she first came but her freshman year, she had some good teammates who taught her how to be a leader and hold yourself accountable. I think she's really embraced that.
"Now she's one of the most disciplined girls that we have on our team. She understands preparation and what we ask of her. She's been a fixture at the top of our lineup in some way, shape or form in singles and doubles the last five years. She's going to go down as one of the players that truly contributed to our success."
For her career, Adaloglou holds a 70-50 record in singles and 66-48 as a doubles competitor. She is currently riding a four-match winning streak dating back to the fall which includes a 6-2, 6-2 straight set victory over then No. 27 Sabina Machalova of Ole Miss at the John Cade Invitational, which was the highest-ranked opponent of the nine she had defeated in her career.
FRIENDS FOREVER
Throughout four of her five years at MSU, Adaloglou has been played alongside All-American teammate Emmanouela Antonaki. But their friendship extends far beyond their time together in maroon and white and dates back to their days growing up in Greece.
"Having someone from my own country means a lot, but especially because it's Emma," Adaloglou said. "Emma and I have known each other for many, many years since we were very young. She's a great person, great friend and great teammate. I couldn't be more thankful to have her here. She brings out the best in me and our friendship has grown. Two Greeks playing at the top of the lineup, we will remember this for the rest of our lives."
Mississippi State and the surrounding town of Starkville began endearing themselves to Adaloglou right from the start, even if The Pita Pit is the closest thing she can find to her native Greek cuisine.
"Starkville and Mississippi State University have a very big place in my heart," Adaloglou said. "I've stayed here for five years, a big part of my life. I'll always remember the people here in Starkville. I know people in the South are great, but the people here in Starkville are the best."
DESIRE. PASSION. LIFE.
Adaloglou is set to graduate in May with a degree in psychology. And while she hopes to one day put that degree to use, there is another goal that she will pursue first upon returning to Greece.
"The dream of my life is to become a professional tennis player," Adaloglou said. "I don't want to just become a professional tennis player, I want to be the best. I will work hard and as much as I can to make it happen. It's my desire, my passion and my life."
But before Adaloglou moves on to achieve her professional aspirations, she wants to soak up every remaining moment here in Starkville. And although she has spent half of a decade here, it seems like only yesterday that she was still the teenage girl wearing the pink track suit while taking her official visit.
"I can't believe it's been five years," Adaloglou said. "It's crazy how time flies. Going back to my freshman year, it's amazing how much I've grown. Of course, I still have a lot of room to grow also but I have all these memories and I'm so grateful for the opportunity and all the people that I've met. They have played a big role in every aspect of my life. I'm thankful for all the people that shaped me into the person I am today.
"If you would've asked me a few years ago when I was 15 or 16 if I could imagine my life being like this, I could never have imagined I'd be in this situation that I am now. I'm very proud that I followed my instincts when I met Daryl (Greenan), my head coach, in Switzerland to come here…It's just been one heck of a ride. If could, I would do it over and over and over again. I have no regrets."
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But thanks to student-athletes being awarded another year of eligibility by the NCAA due to the 2020 season being cut short, Adaloglou is back for her fifth year playing tennis at Mississippi State.
"The last four years have been the best and very helpful for my growth as a person and my growth in tennis," Adaloglou said. "It's been amazing and I couldn't be more thankful for this extra year and the opportunity I get to compete again for my team, for the school Mississippi State and also graduate. I'm very grateful."
And Adaloglou is bound and determined to make her final season her best for the Bulldogs coming off a year in which she finished as a second team All-SEC selection. The Veria, Greece native enters her "super" senior year ranked 67th in the ITA standings as a singles competitor and No. 28 in doubles along with partner Chloé Cirotte.
Adaloglou began the spring slate in the No. 1 position in lineup and beat Carolina Bulatovic of Jacksonville State in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in MSU's opening match. She is also undefeated at 3-0 in doubles, only allowing five total points to be scored against her and Cirotte.
"I've had a solid start," Adaloglou said. "I've been working very, very hard. I think that is helping me. Staying healthy is the priority. But I really believe and feel that I'm going to have a great year in tennis."
Adaloglou's work ethic was engrained in her since she arrived in Starkville in the fall of 2017. By the fall of her sophomore season, Adaloglou had risen to No. 56 nationally and has been a staple in the rankings her whole career.
"It's just hard to find a kid who loves Mississippi State, her teammates and her coaches as much as she does," said associate head coach Sachin Kirtane. "It's been a long journey for her. She was all over the place when she first came but her freshman year, she had some good teammates who taught her how to be a leader and hold yourself accountable. I think she's really embraced that.
"Now she's one of the most disciplined girls that we have on our team. She understands preparation and what we ask of her. She's been a fixture at the top of our lineup in some way, shape or form in singles and doubles the last five years. She's going to go down as one of the players that truly contributed to our success."
For her career, Adaloglou holds a 70-50 record in singles and 66-48 as a doubles competitor. She is currently riding a four-match winning streak dating back to the fall which includes a 6-2, 6-2 straight set victory over then No. 27 Sabina Machalova of Ole Miss at the John Cade Invitational, which was the highest-ranked opponent of the nine she had defeated in her career.
FRIENDS FOREVER
Throughout four of her five years at MSU, Adaloglou has been played alongside All-American teammate Emmanouela Antonaki. But their friendship extends far beyond their time together in maroon and white and dates back to their days growing up in Greece.
"Having someone from my own country means a lot, but especially because it's Emma," Adaloglou said. "Emma and I have known each other for many, many years since we were very young. She's a great person, great friend and great teammate. I couldn't be more thankful to have her here. She brings out the best in me and our friendship has grown. Two Greeks playing at the top of the lineup, we will remember this for the rest of our lives."
Mississippi State and the surrounding town of Starkville began endearing themselves to Adaloglou right from the start, even if The Pita Pit is the closest thing she can find to her native Greek cuisine.
"Starkville and Mississippi State University have a very big place in my heart," Adaloglou said. "I've stayed here for five years, a big part of my life. I'll always remember the people here in Starkville. I know people in the South are great, but the people here in Starkville are the best."
DESIRE. PASSION. LIFE.
Adaloglou is set to graduate in May with a degree in psychology. And while she hopes to one day put that degree to use, there is another goal that she will pursue first upon returning to Greece.
"The dream of my life is to become a professional tennis player," Adaloglou said. "I don't want to just become a professional tennis player, I want to be the best. I will work hard and as much as I can to make it happen. It's my desire, my passion and my life."
But before Adaloglou moves on to achieve her professional aspirations, she wants to soak up every remaining moment here in Starkville. And although she has spent half of a decade here, it seems like only yesterday that she was still the teenage girl wearing the pink track suit while taking her official visit.
"I can't believe it's been five years," Adaloglou said. "It's crazy how time flies. Going back to my freshman year, it's amazing how much I've grown. Of course, I still have a lot of room to grow also but I have all these memories and I'm so grateful for the opportunity and all the people that I've met. They have played a big role in every aspect of my life. I'm thankful for all the people that shaped me into the person I am today.
"If you would've asked me a few years ago when I was 15 or 16 if I could imagine my life being like this, I could never have imagined I'd be in this situation that I am now. I'm very proud that I followed my instincts when I met Daryl (Greenan), my head coach, in Switzerland to come here…It's just been one heck of a ride. If could, I would do it over and over and over again. I have no regrets."
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