Saturday, January 13
Starkville
10 a.m.
Mississippi State
4
vs
2
Middle Tennessee
Photo by: Bailey Black/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Begin Season With Two Victories
January 13, 2024 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's tennis started the Chris Hooshyar era in exciting fashion on opening day.
The Bulldogs claimed a 4-2 victory against Middle Tennessee in the season opener inside Rula Tennis Pavilion and then finished the day off with a 4-1 win over Jacksonville State to improve to 2-0 on the year.
"It was a lot of fun to get out there," Hooshyar said. "What surprised me the most today was how many people showed up. It's a true testament to the Starkville and Mississippi State community. I couldn't be more grateful. The girls needed it too because we were nervous in the doubles in the first match. In singles, it was a little shacky also, but I think the crowd got them through and they started to trust themselves."
State started the day off claiming the doubles point with Dharani Niroshann and Alessia Tagliente defeating Sana Garakani and Lene Peyer of MTSU 6-4. MSU's tandem of Chloé Cirotte and Jayna Clemens beat Eloise Swarbrick and Alessia Truden 7-5 to clinch the doubles point.
Senior Cirotte put the Bulldogs up 2-0 in the match after taking down Cassidy Mataia 6-4, 6-1. Graduate Alexandra Mikhailuk earned the third point for State with a dominate 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ilaria Sposetti.
Jayna Clemens, a freshman, clinched the match for the Bulldogs by earning a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Rutuja Chaphalkar. The win marked Clemens' first career dual-match victory.
In the second match of the day, the Mississippi State dropped to the Gamecocks in doubles but were able to get back on track by claiming the first three singles matches. Maria Rizzolo rallied for a 6-3, 6-2 straight-set victory over Serafima Shastova followed by Cirotte's 6-2, 6-1 win against Dariana Prato.
Mikhailuk closed out the match for State with a dominate 6-2, 6-2 victory over Polina Ramenskaja to clinch the second win of the day for the Bulldogs.
"In the second match in doubles we weren't sharp," Hooshyar said. "The singles were the best part of the day; it was awesome. The thing that I have enjoyed the most was being a team together and having a little more confidence in ourselves. Today we exposed our weaknesses but have seen what we do well. It gives me so much confidence that I have Taylor Russo and Noah Tippen by my side. It's a perfect day when you can learn a lesson and still get the win."
Middle Tennessee moves to 1-1 on the year, while Jacksonville State moves to 0-2 on the season.
Mississippi State is back at home Saturday, Jan. 20 for a doubleheader against Samford at 11 a.m. CT followed by Alcorn State at 3 p.m.
Mississippi State 4, Middle Tennessee 2
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 13, 2023
Doubles
1. Rutuja Chaphalkar/Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-3
2. Chloé Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Eloise Swarbrick/Alessia Truden (MTSU) 7-5
3. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Sana Garakani/Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-4
Order of finish: (3,1,2)
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Sana Garakani (MTSU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 2-1, unfinished
2. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Athina Pitta (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Order of finish: (2,4,3,5,6)
Mississippi State 4, Jacksonville State 1
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 13, 2023
Doubles
1. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Polina Ramenskaja/Serafima Shastova (JSUW) 6-4
2. Zuzana Pavelekova/Anna Syrova (JSUW) def. Chloé Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MSU) 7-5
3. Irene Atigas/Dariana Prato (JSUW) def. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) 7-5
Order of finish: (1,2,3)
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Serafima Shastova (JSUW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Dariana Prato (JSUW) 6-2, 6-1
3. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Polina Ramenskaja (JSUW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) vs. Irene Atigas (JSUW) 6-1, 5-6, unfinished
5. Jayna Clemens (MSU) vs. Zuzana Pavelekova (JSUW) 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Ella Tuomela (JSUW) 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: (1,2,6,3)
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Bulldogs claimed a 4-2 victory against Middle Tennessee in the season opener inside Rula Tennis Pavilion and then finished the day off with a 4-1 win over Jacksonville State to improve to 2-0 on the year.
"It was a lot of fun to get out there," Hooshyar said. "What surprised me the most today was how many people showed up. It's a true testament to the Starkville and Mississippi State community. I couldn't be more grateful. The girls needed it too because we were nervous in the doubles in the first match. In singles, it was a little shacky also, but I think the crowd got them through and they started to trust themselves."
State started the day off claiming the doubles point with Dharani Niroshann and Alessia Tagliente defeating Sana Garakani and Lene Peyer of MTSU 6-4. MSU's tandem of Chloé Cirotte and Jayna Clemens beat Eloise Swarbrick and Alessia Truden 7-5 to clinch the doubles point.
Senior Cirotte put the Bulldogs up 2-0 in the match after taking down Cassidy Mataia 6-4, 6-1. Graduate Alexandra Mikhailuk earned the third point for State with a dominate 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ilaria Sposetti.
Jayna Clemens, a freshman, clinched the match for the Bulldogs by earning a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Rutuja Chaphalkar. The win marked Clemens' first career dual-match victory.
In the second match of the day, the Mississippi State dropped to the Gamecocks in doubles but were able to get back on track by claiming the first three singles matches. Maria Rizzolo rallied for a 6-3, 6-2 straight-set victory over Serafima Shastova followed by Cirotte's 6-2, 6-1 win against Dariana Prato.
Mikhailuk closed out the match for State with a dominate 6-2, 6-2 victory over Polina Ramenskaja to clinch the second win of the day for the Bulldogs.
"In the second match in doubles we weren't sharp," Hooshyar said. "The singles were the best part of the day; it was awesome. The thing that I have enjoyed the most was being a team together and having a little more confidence in ourselves. Today we exposed our weaknesses but have seen what we do well. It gives me so much confidence that I have Taylor Russo and Noah Tippen by my side. It's a perfect day when you can learn a lesson and still get the win."
Middle Tennessee moves to 1-1 on the year, while Jacksonville State moves to 0-2 on the season.
Mississippi State is back at home Saturday, Jan. 20 for a doubleheader against Samford at 11 a.m. CT followed by Alcorn State at 3 p.m.
Mississippi State 4, Middle Tennessee 2
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 13, 2023
Doubles
1. Rutuja Chaphalkar/Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-3
2. Chloé Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Eloise Swarbrick/Alessia Truden (MTSU) 7-5
3. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Sana Garakani/Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-4
Order of finish: (3,1,2)
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Sana Garakani (MTSU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 2-1, unfinished
2. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Athina Pitta (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Order of finish: (2,4,3,5,6)
Mississippi State 4, Jacksonville State 1
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 13, 2023
Doubles
1. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Polina Ramenskaja/Serafima Shastova (JSUW) 6-4
2. Zuzana Pavelekova/Anna Syrova (JSUW) def. Chloé Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MSU) 7-5
3. Irene Atigas/Dariana Prato (JSUW) def. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) 7-5
Order of finish: (1,2,3)
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Serafima Shastova (JSUW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Dariana Prato (JSUW) 6-2, 6-1
3. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Polina Ramenskaja (JSUW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) vs. Irene Atigas (JSUW) 6-1, 5-6, unfinished
5. Jayna Clemens (MSU) vs. Zuzana Pavelekova (JSUW) 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Ella Tuomela (JSUW) 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: (1,2,6,3)
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ 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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