Mississippi State
South Carolina
Carolina Comeback: State Rallies Past No. 16 Gamecocks
March 22, 2024 | Men's Tennis
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Despite winning the doubles point to start the day, No. 19 Mississippi State found itself facing a 3-1 deficit on the road at 16th-ranked South Carolina on Friday.
The Dawgs were down but definitely not out as they clawed their way back on the final three courts to earn a 4-3 comeback victory, their fifth over a ranked opponent this spring.
Benito Sanchez Martinez started MSU's momentum in singles by securing a 6-2, 7-6(1) win over Jelani Sarr followed by No. 39 Petar Jovanovic's 6-4, 6-4 victory past 105th-ranked Casey Hoole to tie the score at three-all.
For Jovanovic, it was his team-leading 22nd singles win of the season and fifth against a ranked opponent.
Friday's match came down to Court 4 where Dusan Milanovic was able to edge South Carolina's Sean Daryabeigi in straight sets 7-5, 7-6(6) to clinch his team-best fifth match of the year.
State (12-5, 4-2 SEC) started the afternoon in the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center by taking the doubles point for the third consecutive match. The 37th-ranked tandem of Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez took out No. 19 Casey Hoole and Toby Samuel 6-1 followed by a 6-3 victory from Nemanja Malesevic and Michal Novansky over Daryabeigi and Sarr to clinch the point.
It was the second straight year Mississippi State has beaten the Gamecocks. Last season, the Bulldogs notched the highest-ranked win in program history by downing then second-ranked South Carolina 5-2 inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion.
Friday's loss dropped the Gamecocks to 8-9 on the year and 2-4 in conference play.
Matt Roberts and MSU continue their ranked weekend road trek as they travel to No. 33 Florida on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The Gators (9-8, 3-4 SEC) are 9-0 at home this year and are coming off a 4-0 shutout win over 51st-ranked Ole Miss on Friday.
No. 19 Mississippi State 4, No. 16 South Carolina 3Carolina Indoor Tennis Center | Columbia, S.C.
March 22, 2024
Doubles
1. No. 37 Petar Jovanovic/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 19 Casey Hoole/Toby Samuel (SC) 6-1
2. Lucas da Silva/James Story (SC) vs. Carles Hernandez/Dusan Milanovic (MSU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Nemanja Malesevic/Michal Novansky (MSU) def. Sean Daryabeigi/Jelani Sarr (SC) 6-3
Order of finish: (1,3)
Singles
1. No. 21 Toby Samuel (SC) def. No. 118 Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) 7-6(4), 6-1
2. No. 39 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. No. 105 Casey Hoole (SC) 6-4, 6-4
3. James Story (SC) def. Carles Hernandez (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Dusan Milanovic (MSU) def. Sean Daryabeigi (SC) 7-5, 7-6(6)
5. Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Jelani Sarr (SC) 6-2, 7-6(1)
6. Lucas da Silva (SC) def. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: (3,6,1,5,2,4)
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Players Mentioned
