Pitta Enjoying A History-Making First Year
March 20, 2024 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – In her first semester, freshman Athina Pitta accomplished something that no other Mississippi State women's tennis player in the program's 50-year history has ever done.
Playing alongside Alexandra Mikhailuk, Pitta and her partner reeled off five consecutive wins across a three-day span in early October to win the ITA Southern Regional Doubles Championship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"I loved the whole experience," Pitta said. "The fact that it was with Alex – a (graduate) that has been here for four years – I think that helped a lot. It helped me through my expectations and what I want to do here. It was just my second or third time playing with Alex, so we just played out and enjoyed it. We clicked as a team."
Pitta and Mikhailuk's ITA Southern Regional title qualified them to represent the Bulldogs at the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego, California where they practiced and played against the top competition that collegiate tennis currently has to offer.
"It was really different because we saw the best players that there are in college tennis," Pitta said. "It's good to see that you can play at this level and also see those players and how they work and play. You can see that there's not that much of a difference."
Pitta finished her first fall with 10 total victories and proved to herself and the new MSU coaching staff that she indeed has a bright future on the horizon.
"No one really expected her and Alex to go out and win regionals," said assistant coach Taylor Russo. "That was an unbelievable surprise. I got the opportunity to spend so much time with her at regionals and the maturity that she has as a freshman is incredible. Athina brings energy and just life to this team. I think she has so much passion for the game. She still has a long way to go but brings so much light and we love having her."
Pitta has continued her winning ways this spring where he has added seven more victories to her first-year total. The 5-foot-8 standout is currently part of the Bulldogs' top doubles tandem and has played as high as No. 3 in the singles' lineup.
Although Pitta has experienced her share of success this season, she admits that adjusting to playing on a team took some getting used to after spending so many years on the junior circuit competing independently on her own.
"I feel like junior tennis and college tennis are two completely different sports because (in college tennis) you always have the team behind you and you have to support that too," Pitta said. "Tennis is an individual sport by itself, but you cannot do that in college tennis. It's really different but I'm enjoying it."
Pitta has continued to cultivate relationships with her teammates and also with a new coaching staff that she was different than the one she initially signed with. It wouldn't take long for the level of love and commitment from the coaches to shine through whenever Pitta enrolled in August.
"With me being new along with the coaches, I think our connection was pretty good," Pitta said. "I love how passionate they are for us and how much they care about us. From the first moment, you could tell that they cared for us more than anything and want us to improve and do well as a team."
The Thessaloniki, Greece native began playing tennis at the age of 4 while also dabbling in dance, swimming, karate and even following in her father's footsteps into the world of mixed martial arts. But by the time she turned 14, a chance to focus solely on her tennis career presented itself with an invitation to attend the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain.
"When that opportunity came, I had to take it," Pitta said. "It was an unreal experience working with different tennis people and different players from around the world. I learned so many things and kind of prepared me for college. I lived by myself there and learned how to be an individual and do my own thing while I focused on tennis and school."
Pitta accumulated 60 wins (35 singles, 25 doubles) during her ITF Juniors career and claimed a bronze medal during the U14 European Summer Cup. She also advanced to the finals of the 2019 European Championships and was part of the first Greek team to ever win a medal at that event.
When it came down to choosing a college to play for, Pitta sought guidance from several Greek standouts, including former MSU All-American Emmanouela Antonaki. She took three official visits to NCAA Power 5 programs and found out firsthand what the recruiting advice from her fellow Grecians entailed. Â Â
"They told me when I came to the U.S. on visits, I'd know which university was for me," Pitta said. "When I came (to Mississippi State), that was it. I loved the environment here and the people here. The facilities are all new to me. We don't have anything like this back in Greece. It was an unreal experience coming here and the other universities. But Mississippi State just clicked because of the people.
"The people here make you feel at home. They'll ask you all the time what sport you play and will want to come to watch your matches. I love the environment and how much they care about us. As an athlete that's away from home, that's really important to know you have people that care. It's like having a second family."
