Friday, September 13
Greenville, S.C.
Mississippi State
vs
Debbie Southern Furman Fall Classic
Photo by: Hallie Walker/Mississippi State Athletics
Bulldogs Begin Fall Season At Debbie Southern Classic
September 12, 2024 | Women's Tennis
GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the eighth time in the last nine years, Mississippi State women's tennis opens its campaign at the Debbie Southern Furman Fall Classic.
The tournament is set to begin on Friday at 8 a.m. CT and will continue through Sunday. With rain expected in the area, players will not only play at the Mickel Tennis Center at Furman but will also be in action at Clemson's Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.
Players from 13 different programs will be participating in the tournament. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, N.C. State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Texas Tech and Wake Forest will all be represented along with MSU and host Furman.
The Bulldogs are facing stout competition with Georgia (3), Ohio State (15), NC State (16), Auburn (17), South Carolina (20), Georgia Tech (25) all finishing in the top 25 of the ITA team rankings last spring.
State has eight players participating in the tournament. Alessia Tagliente and Maria Rizzolo are starting their senior seasons with the Bulldogs. Athina Pitta and Jayna Clemens begin their second seasons while freshmen Emma Cohen, Gianna Oboniye and Carolina Troiano are making their collegiate debuts. Sophomore Chiara Di Genova dons the Maroon and White for the first time this weekend after transferring in from Florida State.
"I'm very excited to compete this weekend," said head coach Chris Hooshyar. "We are ready to see the girls fight and to win matches. I'm excited to see our returning players build on the habits they set and to see the new players fight for this great university."
Tagliente will start the day at Furman taking on the Paladins' Alexa Griffith at 8 a.m. Over at Clemson's campus, Troiano debuts against Arina Oreshchenkova of Texas Tech at 8:30 a.m. Pitta will also be in action against Clemson's Candela Yecora and Rizzolo meets Sankavi Gownder of Wake Forest with both of those matches also beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Also at Clemson, Oboniye has her inaugural match for MSU against Mariia Hlahola of Texas Tech at 10 a.m. Later, Di Genova debuts for the Bulldogs versus the Red Raiders' Halley Murphy at 11:30 a.m. and Clemens competes against Kentucky's Asuncion Jadue at approximately 1 p.m.
The doubles duo of Clemens and Cohen received a first-round bye but two more Bulldog tandems are in action Friday afternoon. Rizzolo and Tagliente take on Griffth and Marissa Pennings' on the Paladins' home court at approximately 4 p.m. and Oboniye and Pitta battle Alejandra Cruz and Given Roach of Georgia Tech at approximately 5 p.m. at Furman.
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The tournament is set to begin on Friday at 8 a.m. CT and will continue through Sunday. With rain expected in the area, players will not only play at the Mickel Tennis Center at Furman but will also be in action at Clemson's Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.
Players from 13 different programs will be participating in the tournament. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, N.C. State, Ohio State, South Carolina, Texas Tech and Wake Forest will all be represented along with MSU and host Furman.
The Bulldogs are facing stout competition with Georgia (3), Ohio State (15), NC State (16), Auburn (17), South Carolina (20), Georgia Tech (25) all finishing in the top 25 of the ITA team rankings last spring.
State has eight players participating in the tournament. Alessia Tagliente and Maria Rizzolo are starting their senior seasons with the Bulldogs. Athina Pitta and Jayna Clemens begin their second seasons while freshmen Emma Cohen, Gianna Oboniye and Carolina Troiano are making their collegiate debuts. Sophomore Chiara Di Genova dons the Maroon and White for the first time this weekend after transferring in from Florida State.
"I'm very excited to compete this weekend," said head coach Chris Hooshyar. "We are ready to see the girls fight and to win matches. I'm excited to see our returning players build on the habits they set and to see the new players fight for this great university."
Tagliente will start the day at Furman taking on the Paladins' Alexa Griffith at 8 a.m. Over at Clemson's campus, Troiano debuts against Arina Oreshchenkova of Texas Tech at 8:30 a.m. Pitta will also be in action against Clemson's Candela Yecora and Rizzolo meets Sankavi Gownder of Wake Forest with both of those matches also beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Also at Clemson, Oboniye has her inaugural match for MSU against Mariia Hlahola of Texas Tech at 10 a.m. Later, Di Genova debuts for the Bulldogs versus the Red Raiders' Halley Murphy at 11:30 a.m. and Clemens competes against Kentucky's Asuncion Jadue at approximately 1 p.m.
The doubles duo of Clemens and Cohen received a first-round bye but two more Bulldog tandems are in action Friday afternoon. Rizzolo and Tagliente take on Griffth and Marissa Pennings' on the Paladins' home court at approximately 4 p.m. and Oboniye and Pitta battle Alejandra Cruz and Given Roach of Georgia Tech at approximately 5 p.m. at Furman.
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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