Women's Tennis Opens At Debbie Southern Fall Classic

GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the sixth time in the last seven years, Mississippi State women's tennis will open its fall slate at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic.

Play gets underway Friday at 8 a.m. CT and will continue through Sunday. Players from nine different programs from around the country are participating in the tournament hosted by Furman University at the Mickel Tennis Center.

"We have got eight out of our ten girls going which is a nice even number for our doubles," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "Everybody is excited about competing, and the girls have been working hard. They are looking good in practice, so we are excited to see how they can do at this tournament. This is a very competitive tournament and that's why we like going there. It gives us a good idea of where we are early in the fall and all the coaches are excited about seeing what these girls can do in competition."

Several of the nation's top women's tennis programs are sending players to the event. In addition to MSU and host Furman, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Ohio State, Duke, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Clemson will all be represented.

North Carolina (3), Duke (4), Ohio State (15), and Wake Forest (23) all finished in the top 25 of the ITA team rankings this past spring.

Mississippi State returns four players from last year's squad and six new players. The coaching staff has been pleased with their practice efforts over the past few months in preparation for the start of the fall season.

"What stands out to me is collectively as a team is that they really seem eager to compete," Greenan said. "They are doing a good job of competing in practice and in preparation for this tournament, so I think they are doing a good job of pushing each other and building our culture so far."

Alexandra Mikhailuk and Maria Rizzolo will team up against the North Carolina tandem of Fiona Crawley and Abbey Forbes in Flight 2 at 8 a.m.

Dharani Niroshan and Emily Surcey will face Emma Jackson and Brianna Shvets of Duke in Flight 3 also at 8 a.m.

The two other doubles matches will see MSU student-athletes, Maddie Bemisderfer and Maddie McKee square off against Marissa Pennings and Ellie Schulson of Furman while Sydney Hrehor and Alessia Tagliente take on Sophia Hatton and Eleni Louka of Clemson at 9 a.m. in Flight 4.

Bulldog players are also scheduled to compete in eight singles matches that will start at the conclusion of doubles.

Rizzolo gets the singles started outdoors for the Bulldogs at 1 p.m. Rizzolo battles Cameron Morra of Duke in Flight 2.

Mikhailuk faces North Carolina's Crawley in Flight 3 at noon and sophomore Tagliente competes against Duke's Shvets in Flight 4 at 2 p.m.

Niroshan takes on North Carolina's Reilly Tran in Flight 5 also at noon.

Bemisderfer, a graduate transfer, takes on Vanderbilt's Marcella Cruz in Flight 6 at noon and sophomore transfer Emily Surcey faces Vanderbilt's Amy Stevens at 2 p.m. in Flight 7.

Freshman Hrehor plays against Furman's Alexa Griffith in Flight 8 at noon.

McKee, a senior, is the final competitor for State as she matches up against South Carolina's Annie Jennings in Flight 9 at 4 p.m.

For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Women's Tennis Opens At Debbie Southern Fall Classic

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