Mississippi State
Iowa
Women's Tennis Wins Opening Match At ITA Kickoff
January 28, 2022 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. – Mississippi State's women's tennis team secured a 4-1 win over Iowa on the opening day of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Friday morning to move to 4-0 on the season.
"I'm happy with the win today," said MSU head coach Daryl Greenan. "It is our best win of the season so far. We beat a well-coached and strong indoor team. We didn't play our best, but the girls are reaping the benefits of their determination and grit in close battles. It paid off in the doubles."
In doubles play, the No. 28 duo of Magda Adaloglou and Chloé Cirotte earned a 6-2 win over Samantha Mannix and Vipasha Mehra to extend their winning streak to five matches. Meanwhile, the senior tandem of Emmanouela Antonaki and Tamara Racine trailed 4-3 in their match to Marisa Schmidt and Samantha Gillas, but rallied to win 6-4 and clinch the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs kept the momentum rolling into singles play where Cirotte earned the first singles point after dominating her matchup against Vipasha Mehra 6-1, 6-2. Cirotte has now won seven consecutive singles matches to tie her career long.
Freshman phenom Alessia Tagliente won her match against Samantha Gillas in speedy fashion 6-0, 6-3 to move to 4-0 in singles play. Tagliente has yet to drop a set in her four singles matches.
Adaloglou, ranked 67th in singles play, dropped her first set to Samantha Mannix, but recovered to win a thrilling three-setter 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Racine was set for an exciting ending against Michelle Bacalla before it was suspended at 2-6, 6-4, 6-5. Alexandra Mikhailuk won her first set with ease over Barbora Pokorna before their second set was suspended with the score at 6-3, 2-2.
"Magda and Tamara mounted comebacks for the second weekend in a row," Greenan said. "Chloé and Alessia's convincing wins at No. 4 and No. 6 were pivotal in setting up Magda's hard earned clinch."
No. 50 Antoanki suffered her first loss of the season to Marisa Schmidt 6-3, 6-4.
Next Up
The Bulldogs are set to face SEC foe and host Georgia on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT, for a chance to earn a berth to the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship.
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Mississippi State 4, Iowa 1
Jan. 28, 2022
ITA Kickoff - Athens, Ga. - Magill Tennis Complex
Doubles
1. Emmanouela Antonaki/Tamara Racine (MSU) def. Marisa Schmidt/Samantha Gillas (IOWA) 6-4
2. #28 Magda Adaloglou/Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Samantha Mannix/Vipasha Mehra (IOWA) 6-2
3. Michelle Bacalla/Barbora Pokorna (IOWA) def. Alessia Tagliente/Marta Falceto (MSU) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
Singles
1. #67 Magda Adaloglou (MSU) def. Samantha Mannix (IOWA) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
2. Marisa Schmidt (IOWA) def. #50 Emmanouela Antonaki (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Michelle Bacalla (IOWA) vs. Tamara Racine (MSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-5, unfinished
4. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Vipasha Mehra (IOWA) 6-1, 6-2
5. Barbora Pokorna (IOWA) vs. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Samantha Gillas (IOWA) 6-0, 6-3
Order of finish: 4,2,6,1
Players Mentioned
