Mississippi State
NCAA Individual Championships
Bulldog Quartet Bound For NCAAs
November 18, 2024 | Men's Tennis
WACO, Texas – Mississippi State is sending a strong contingent to the Lone Star State to compete in the NCAA Men's Tennis Individual Championships this week.
The Bulldogs' five total entries into the tournament are the most in the Southeastern Conference and the second-most in the country. It is also the highest entry number MSU has had in in the event since 1968.
The top-ranked tandem in the country, Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez, are playing both singles and doubles at NCAAs as is freshman Niccolo Baroni. Baroni is one of only three true freshmen to qualify for the tournament and will team with fellow newcomer Mario Martinez Serrano.
"The fall has been a success for our team developing in all areas including mentally, physically, trusting each other on a high level and individual confidence moving into the spring," said head coach Matt Roberts. "Having these Bulldogs compete in the NCAA singles and doubles tournament is icing on the cake for all of their hard work this fall and we are looking forward to working through some challenges and adversity this week."
Singles play gets underway on Tuesday at the Herd Tennis Center on the campus of Baylor University. Sanchez Martinez, ranked 107th, starts the day against No. 11 Paul Inchauspe of Princeton at 9 a.m. Baroni follows up with his first-round match against 82nd-ranked Jamie Connel of Florida State at 11:30 a.m. and No. 12 Jovanovic battles 33rd-ranked Braden Shick of N.C. State at 1:30 p.m.
Doubles play begins on Wednesday. The NCAA Individual Championships will be streamed on ESPN+.
For more information on the Bulldog men's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook. Â
Players Mentioned
