Mississippi State
Auburn
Dawgs Split Sunday Doubleheader
March 24, 2024 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's tennis split a home doubleheader Sunday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
Chris Hooshyar's Bulldogs dropped a 4-0 decision to 18th-ranked Auburn but closed out the afternoon by blanking Mississippi Valley State by the same score.
MSU (10-10, 0-6 SEC) won all four singles matches against MVSU 6-0, 6-0 and were up 6-0, 5-0 on the remaining two courts that were abandoned once the match was clinched. Doubles was not played against the 0-13 Delta Devilettes.
Maria Rizzolo downed Jacqueline Leflore, Dharani Niroshan notched a win against Naterra Young, Chloé Cirotte claimed a victory versus Toni Carter and Athina Pitta clinched her team-leading third match with a triumph over Zulema Salome.
When the match against Auburn (12-7, 6-2 SEC) was clinched, Alexandra Mikhailuk held a 6-4, 2-2 lead over No. 18 Carolyn Ansari on Court 1 and Rizzolo was waged in a war with 74th-ranked Ariana Arseneault. Rizzolo won the opening set 6-1, dropped the second 3-6 and was tied 1-1 in the third when the Tigers prevailed.
The Bulldogs hit the road for two consecutive weekends. Up first, State will travel to eighth-ranked Georgia on Friday at 4 p.m.
No. 18 Auburn 4, Mississippi State 0A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre | Starkville, Miss.
March 24, 2024
Doubles
1. No. 9 Ariana Arseneault/DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-1
2. Carolyn Ansari/Selin Ovunc (AUB) def. Chloé Cirotte/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-0
3. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Ali Despain/Adeline Flach (AUB) 2-5, unfinished
Order of finish: (2,1)
Singles
1. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) vs. No.18 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
2. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. No. 74 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-1, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished
3. No. 62 DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Selin Ovunc (AUB) def. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 7-5, 6-0
5. Adeline Flach (AUB) def. Jayna Clemens (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Ali Despain (AUB) 4-6, 2-3, unfinished
Order of finish: (3,5,4)
Mississippi State 4, Mississippi Valley State 0
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre | Starkville, Miss.
March 24, 2024
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Jacqueline Leflore (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) def. Toni Carter (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Zulema Salome (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Jayna Clemens (MSU) vs. Jaslyn Sanders (MVSU) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
5. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) def. Naterra Young (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Brooke Edyvane (MVSU) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
Order of finish: (1,5,3,2)
For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
