Friday, March 24
Starkville
4:00 PM
Mississippi State
2
vs
5
No. 19 Florida
Photo by: Will Porada/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Edged By No. 19 Florida
March 24, 2023 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's tennis fought hard against No. 19 Florida but fell 5-2 on Friday afternoon.
"I'm proud of the way we competed today," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "We were happy to be back at home and our fans were great today. This team has dealt with so much adversity this year, but they refuse to give up. We have several players who have been thrown into action due to injuries and they have done a great job. We had highlight wins from Emmanouela [Antonaki] and Dharani [Niroshan] today."
Emmanouela Antonaki and Dharani Niroshan each claimed singles victories for the Bulldogs. Antonaki upset No. 42 Sara Dahlstorm 6-2, 6-3 to earn her 27th-ranked career singles win and third ranked win of the year. With the win, she moves to 17-10 overall and 12-5 in dual-match play.
Niroshan claimed a victory over Rachel Gailis to move her to 11-8 overall and 8-3 in dual play. Niroshan claimed the first set 6-4 and took the second 7-6(6) after being down in the tiebreaker 6-2.
"Emmanouela has been playing great tennis throughout the SEC season and seems to be finding her stride when it counts the most," Greenan said. "I would say the same for Dharani and she picked up the biggest win of her young career. They are both playing with confidence, and we need that rub off on a few others who are competing hard and ready to get over the hump."
Emily Surcey took the first set 6-3 against Bente Spee, but Spee bounced back to the following two sets 6-1, 6-4.
Gia Cohen fell to 45th-ranked Carly Brigss 6-3, 6-3 as did Alexandra Mikhailuk to Alicia Dudeney 6-3, 6-3. No. 117 Maria Rizzolo lost to Gator Emily de Oliveira 6-1, 6-4.
Florida also took the doubles point earlier in the day as Dudeney and Spee topped Antonaki and Niroshan 6-1 and Oliveria and Williams defeated Sydney Hrehor and Mikhailuk 6-3.
"The schedule doesn't get any easier moving forward, but I know if we compete like we did today we give ourselves a chance to win," Greenan said.Â
MSU moves to 10-8 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Next Up
Mississippi State is back at home on Sunday, March 26 to take on No. 26 South Carolina at 11:30 a.m.
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
No. 19 Florida 5, Mississippi State 2
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre | Starkville, Miss.
March 24, 2023
Doubles
1. Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) def. Emmanouela Antonaki/Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 6-1
2. Maddie Bemisderfer/Gia Cohen (MSU) vs. #60 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis (UF) 4-4, unfinished
3. Emily de Oliveira/Sophie Williams (UF) def. Sydney Hrehor/Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) 6-3
Order of finish: (1,3)
Singles
1. Emmanouela Antonaki (MSU) def. #42 Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 6-2, 6-3
2. #45 Carly Briggs (UF) def. Gia Cohen (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Alicia Dudeney (UF) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) def. Rachel Gailis (UF) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Emily de Oliveira (UF) def. #117 Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Bente Spee (UF) def. Emily Surcey (MSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: (1,5,2,3,4,6)
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"I'm proud of the way we competed today," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "We were happy to be back at home and our fans were great today. This team has dealt with so much adversity this year, but they refuse to give up. We have several players who have been thrown into action due to injuries and they have done a great job. We had highlight wins from Emmanouela [Antonaki] and Dharani [Niroshan] today."
Emmanouela Antonaki and Dharani Niroshan each claimed singles victories for the Bulldogs. Antonaki upset No. 42 Sara Dahlstorm 6-2, 6-3 to earn her 27th-ranked career singles win and third ranked win of the year. With the win, she moves to 17-10 overall and 12-5 in dual-match play.
Niroshan claimed a victory over Rachel Gailis to move her to 11-8 overall and 8-3 in dual play. Niroshan claimed the first set 6-4 and took the second 7-6(6) after being down in the tiebreaker 6-2.
"Emmanouela has been playing great tennis throughout the SEC season and seems to be finding her stride when it counts the most," Greenan said. "I would say the same for Dharani and she picked up the biggest win of her young career. They are both playing with confidence, and we need that rub off on a few others who are competing hard and ready to get over the hump."
Emily Surcey took the first set 6-3 against Bente Spee, but Spee bounced back to the following two sets 6-1, 6-4.
Gia Cohen fell to 45th-ranked Carly Brigss 6-3, 6-3 as did Alexandra Mikhailuk to Alicia Dudeney 6-3, 6-3. No. 117 Maria Rizzolo lost to Gator Emily de Oliveira 6-1, 6-4.
Florida also took the doubles point earlier in the day as Dudeney and Spee topped Antonaki and Niroshan 6-1 and Oliveria and Williams defeated Sydney Hrehor and Mikhailuk 6-3.
"The schedule doesn't get any easier moving forward, but I know if we compete like we did today we give ourselves a chance to win," Greenan said.Â
MSU moves to 10-8 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Next Up
Mississippi State is back at home on Sunday, March 26 to take on No. 26 South Carolina at 11:30 a.m.
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
No. 19 Florida 5, Mississippi State 2
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre | Starkville, Miss.
March 24, 2023
Doubles
1. Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) def. Emmanouela Antonaki/Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 6-1
2. Maddie Bemisderfer/Gia Cohen (MSU) vs. #60 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis (UF) 4-4, unfinished
3. Emily de Oliveira/Sophie Williams (UF) def. Sydney Hrehor/Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) 6-3
Order of finish: (1,3)
Singles
1. Emmanouela Antonaki (MSU) def. #42 Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 6-2, 6-3
2. #45 Carly Briggs (UF) def. Gia Cohen (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Alicia Dudeney (UF) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) def. Rachel Gailis (UF) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Emily de Oliveira (UF) def. #117 Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Bente Spee (UF) def. Emily Surcey (MSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: (1,5,2,3,4,6)
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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