Mississippi State
Presbyterian
Bulldogs Complete Sunday Sweep
February 05, 2023 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Sunday was certainly a success for Mississippi State men's tennis.
The Bulldogs (8-1) proved they could win inside as well as outside during their doubleheader sweep of Presbyterian and Jackson State. MSU blanked the Blue Hose 7-0 inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion to start the morning and finished off the Tigers 6-1 outdoors at the Pitts Tennis Centre later that afternoon.
"It's not always easy to get up and get ready for an early 9 a.m. timeslot and take care of business," said assistant coach Jake Jacoby. "But we came out really focused in doubles and it was cool to see guys get a ranked win in doubles and a ranked win at No. 1 singles."
After clinching both singles and doubles and also earning a ranked singles win during the victory over Tulane on Friday, Nemanja Malesevic continued to carry that momentum into Sunday's match against Presbyterian (2-6). Malesevic knocked off his fellow countryman Dusan Milanovic in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the match for the Bulldogs and also clinched the doubles point with his 6-1 victory with partner Carles Hernandez over 22nd-ranked Milanovic and Max Benson.
"Getting that ranked win on Friday really helped me and I came into today with a lot of confidence," Malesevic said. "I had a really good week of practice and good conversations with my coaches on what I needed to focus on. I stuck to my game plan the whole week and had a lot of fun, especially in doubles with Carles."
Petar Jovanovic and Gregor Ramskogler claimed the first doubles victory of the day, shutting out Sebastian Dominguez and Javier Matos 6-0.
Ramskogler was also the first singles player to secure a win, defeating David Mamalat 6-4, 6-0. Benito Sanchez Martinez wasn't too far behind after topping Teo Cariov 6-1, 6-1 before Malesevic clinched things for Mississippi State.
Ewen Lumsden also won in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 over Matos, as did Hernandez against Dominguez 6-4, 6-1. Jovanovic, ranked 107th nationally, closed out the shutout with his 6-2, 4-6, 1-0(3) victory against Benson.
Things did not start off as well in the Bulldogs' second match against Jackson State (0-2). Ramskogler and Jovanovic won 7-5 over Raul Centeno and Francisco Vargas but MSU fell in its other two matches and dropped just the second point in school history to the Tigers in seven total meetings.
The doubles match the Bulldogs did win was big for historical purposes as Ramskogler moved to No. 2 all-time in school history with his 58th career dual match doubles victory. He needs two more to tie Niclas Braun (2016-19) for the most at MSU.
The Bulldogs were able to bounce back with a clean sweep in singles. Patrick Lazo swung the momentum back to the home team with his 6-2, 6-0 victory over Carlos Castillo to earn his first dual match win of the season.
"He came out really clean and focused with a lot of energy," Jacoby said. "He was our first guy off and really set the tone down there. He's been around the block as a fifth-year graduate senior and it was cool to see him get that win."
Ramskogler followed suit with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Richy Gamo, Sanchez Martinez pummeled Alejandro Pimilla 6-2, 6-0 and Jovanovic clinched things with his 6-1, 6-2 victory over Vargas at the No. 1 position for his 12th consecutive singles win.
Hernandez conquered Centeno 6-2, 6-2 and Lumsden closed out the twinbill with his 6-2, 6-2 triumph of Jesus Gonzales.
Matt Roberts' Bulldogs will be back in action next Sunday as they travel to No. 12 Florida State for a noon CT start.
Mississippi State 7, Presbyterian 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 5, 2023
Doubles
1. No. 42 Carles Hernandez/Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) def. No. 22 Max Benson/Dusan Milanovic (PC) 6-1
2. Petar Jovanovic/Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Sebastian Dominguez/Javier Matos (PC) 6-0
3. Michal Novansky/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) vs. Teo Cariov/David Mamalat (PC) 5-1, unfinished
Order of finish: (2,1)
Singles
1. Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) def. No. 63 Dusan Milanovic (PC) 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 107 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Max Benson (PC) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0(3)
3. Carles Hernandez (MSU) def. Sebastian Dominguez (PC) 6-4, 6-1
4. Ewen Lumsden (MSU) def. Javier Matos (PC) 6-4, 6-2
5. Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Teo Cariov (PC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. David Mamalat (PC) 6-4, 6-0
Order of finish: (6,5,1,4,3,2)
Mississippi State 6, Jackson State 1
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 5, 2023
Doubles
1. Petar Jovanovic/Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Raul Centeno/Francisco Vargas (JSU) 7-5
2. Gokalp Ayar/Jesus Gonzales (JSU) def. Ewen Lumsden/B. Sanchez Martinez (MSU) 6-4
3. Catlos Castillo/Richy Gamo (JSU) def. Patrick Lazo/Seth Richey (MSU) 7-5
Order of finish: (1,3,2)
Singles
1. #107 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Francisco Vargas (JSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Carles Hernandez (MSU) def. Raul Centeno (JSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ewen Lumsden (MSU) def. Jesus Gonzales (JSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Alejandro Pimilla (JSU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Richy Gamo (JSU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Patrick Lazo (MSU) def. Carlos Castillo (JSU) 6-0, 6-2
Order of finish: (6,5,4,1,2,3)
Players Mentioned
