Saturday, January 18
Starkville
10 a.m.
Mississippi State
4
vs
0
Bellarmine
Photo by: Ivy Ball/MSU Athletics
State Starts Season With Two Shutouts
January 18, 2025 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State came out of the gates swinging in its opening day doubleheader on Saturday.
Second-year head coach Chris Hooshyar saw his Bulldogs secure a pair of 4-0 victories over Bellarmine and Samford to start the dual match season with two shutouts.
"I think we did a really good job today of focusing on what was in front of us and really working hard on the identity that we want to create on the court," Hooshyar said.
MSU's shutout sweep also included a ranked win for the newly-formed duo of Chiara Di Genova and Alessia Tagliente that clinched a crucial doubles point in the afternoon match against Samford.
Di Genova and Tagliente topped the 75th-ranked tandem of Eleni Liakonis and Meredith Taylor 6-4 as doubles came down to the final court. The victory marked the first ranked win for either player in doubles or singles over the course of their careers.
"It felt good to be honest," Tagliente said. "I think it gave us a lot of confidence because of all the hard work we did in the fall is paying off. I think everyone was happy with the day, but this is just the beginning of our rise. We're just going to keep working very hard and see it week-by-week."
Saturday started on a successful note with State blanking Bellarmine inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion to earn its 14th-consecutive win to open the season, a streak that dates back to 2012.
It was Di Genova and Tagliente that set the tone early with a 6-1 victory over Marika Caruk and Shu Grosso before Gianna Oboniye and Athina Pitta earned a 6-4 win against Vendula Kryslova and Ekater Tikhonko to clinch the first point of the morning.
Oboniye, a freshman, quickly added her first dual match singles triumph as well by topping Kryslova 6-1, 6-2. Di Genova quickly followed suit with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Reese Parker before Jayna Clemens claimed her first career match-clincher 6-3, 6-0 against Yeva Kramarova.
Samford started Mississippi State's second match with a doubles victory. However, Oboniye and Pitta evened things up with their 6-0 shutout of Sara Erenda and former MSU player Emily Surcey before Di Genova and Tagliente's ranked win gave the pivotal early point to the homestanding Bulldogs.
Taglinete carried that confidence to singles where he secured a 6-3, 6-2 win over Margaret Jaraczewski, her fourth-straight singles win dating back to the fall. Clemens blew past Libby Blair 6-1, 6-3 for her second win of the day before freshman Carolina Troiano claimed her first-career clinch 6-2, 6-2 against Erenda.
"Chiara won her first match and was battling in her second," Hooshyar said. "Carolina was up 5-4 in the second set in the first match and won her second match. Oboniye was incredible. She had a match point when the (Samford) match was abandoned. It's the energy they bring also with the maturity. I can't emphasize Alessia enough. What a turnaround since I got here to where she is right now. One-hundred percent full credit goes to her. Athina, Jayna, Ava Rath, Maria Rizzolo and Emma Cohen, it's a good group."
Sandwiched between Mississippi State's matches, Samford (1-1) defeated Bellarmine (0-2) by a score of 4-1 in a neutral site showdown.
Next up for MSU is another twin bill to close out the month as Tulane and Alabama A&M come to town on Jan. 31 for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. matches, respectively.
Mississippi State 4, Bellarmine 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 18, 2025
DoublesÂ
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Vendula Kryslova/Ekaterina Tikhonko (BU) 6-4
2. Maria Rizzolo/Carolina Troiano (MSU) vs. Yeva Kramarova/Reese Parker (BU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Chiara Di Genova/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Marika Caruk/Shu Grosso (BU) 6-1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (3,1)Â Â Â Â Â Â
 Â
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Ekaterina Tikhonko (BU) 7-6 (5), 2-4, unfinished                        Â
2. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Vendula Kryslova (BU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Marika Caruk (BU) 6-4, 4-4, unfinished
4. Carolina Troiano (MSU) vs. Nikola Kollaritsch (BU) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished                 Â
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Reese Parker (BU) 6-4, 6-0 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Yeva Kramarova (BU) 6-3, 6-0 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (2,5,6)Â Â Â
                                                         Â
Mississippi State 4, Samford 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 18, 2025
Doubles
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Sara Erenda/Emily Surcey (SAM) 6-0
2. Margaret Jaraczewski/Hailey Troup (SAM) def. Jayna Clemens/Carolina Troiano (MSU) 6-0
3. Chiara Di Genova/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. No. 75 Eleni Liakonis/Meredith Taylor (SAM) 6-4 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (2,1,3)
Singles
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) vs. Emily Surcey (SAM) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
2. Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Sara Erenda (SAM) 6-2, 6-2
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (SAM) 6-3, 6-2
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) vs. Meredith Taylor (SAM) 6-4, 4-2, unfinished
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Eleni Liakonis (SAM) 5-7, 4-0, unfinished                                 Â
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Libby Blair (SAM) 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: (3,6,2)
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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Second-year head coach Chris Hooshyar saw his Bulldogs secure a pair of 4-0 victories over Bellarmine and Samford to start the dual match season with two shutouts.
"I think we did a really good job today of focusing on what was in front of us and really working hard on the identity that we want to create on the court," Hooshyar said.
MSU's shutout sweep also included a ranked win for the newly-formed duo of Chiara Di Genova and Alessia Tagliente that clinched a crucial doubles point in the afternoon match against Samford.
Di Genova and Tagliente topped the 75th-ranked tandem of Eleni Liakonis and Meredith Taylor 6-4 as doubles came down to the final court. The victory marked the first ranked win for either player in doubles or singles over the course of their careers.
"It felt good to be honest," Tagliente said. "I think it gave us a lot of confidence because of all the hard work we did in the fall is paying off. I think everyone was happy with the day, but this is just the beginning of our rise. We're just going to keep working very hard and see it week-by-week."
Saturday started on a successful note with State blanking Bellarmine inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion to earn its 14th-consecutive win to open the season, a streak that dates back to 2012.
It was Di Genova and Tagliente that set the tone early with a 6-1 victory over Marika Caruk and Shu Grosso before Gianna Oboniye and Athina Pitta earned a 6-4 win against Vendula Kryslova and Ekater Tikhonko to clinch the first point of the morning.
Oboniye, a freshman, quickly added her first dual match singles triumph as well by topping Kryslova 6-1, 6-2. Di Genova quickly followed suit with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Reese Parker before Jayna Clemens claimed her first career match-clincher 6-3, 6-0 against Yeva Kramarova.
Samford started Mississippi State's second match with a doubles victory. However, Oboniye and Pitta evened things up with their 6-0 shutout of Sara Erenda and former MSU player Emily Surcey before Di Genova and Tagliente's ranked win gave the pivotal early point to the homestanding Bulldogs.
Taglinete carried that confidence to singles where he secured a 6-3, 6-2 win over Margaret Jaraczewski, her fourth-straight singles win dating back to the fall. Clemens blew past Libby Blair 6-1, 6-3 for her second win of the day before freshman Carolina Troiano claimed her first-career clinch 6-2, 6-2 against Erenda.
"Chiara won her first match and was battling in her second," Hooshyar said. "Carolina was up 5-4 in the second set in the first match and won her second match. Oboniye was incredible. She had a match point when the (Samford) match was abandoned. It's the energy they bring also with the maturity. I can't emphasize Alessia enough. What a turnaround since I got here to where she is right now. One-hundred percent full credit goes to her. Athina, Jayna, Ava Rath, Maria Rizzolo and Emma Cohen, it's a good group."
Sandwiched between Mississippi State's matches, Samford (1-1) defeated Bellarmine (0-2) by a score of 4-1 in a neutral site showdown.
Next up for MSU is another twin bill to close out the month as Tulane and Alabama A&M come to town on Jan. 31 for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. matches, respectively.
Mississippi State 4, Bellarmine 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 18, 2025
DoublesÂ
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Vendula Kryslova/Ekaterina Tikhonko (BU) 6-4
2. Maria Rizzolo/Carolina Troiano (MSU) vs. Yeva Kramarova/Reese Parker (BU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Chiara Di Genova/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Marika Caruk/Shu Grosso (BU) 6-1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (3,1)Â Â Â Â Â Â
 Â
Singles
1. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Ekaterina Tikhonko (BU) 7-6 (5), 2-4, unfinished                        Â
2. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Vendula Kryslova (BU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Marika Caruk (BU) 6-4, 4-4, unfinished
4. Carolina Troiano (MSU) vs. Nikola Kollaritsch (BU) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished                 Â
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Reese Parker (BU) 6-4, 6-0 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Yeva Kramarova (BU) 6-3, 6-0 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (2,5,6)Â Â Â
                                                         Â
Mississippi State 4, Samford 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Jan. 18, 2025
Doubles
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Sara Erenda/Emily Surcey (SAM) 6-0
2. Margaret Jaraczewski/Hailey Troup (SAM) def. Jayna Clemens/Carolina Troiano (MSU) 6-0
3. Chiara Di Genova/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. No. 75 Eleni Liakonis/Meredith Taylor (SAM) 6-4 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Order of Finish: (2,1,3)
Singles
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) vs. Emily Surcey (SAM) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
2. Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Sara Erenda (SAM) 6-2, 6-2
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (SAM) 6-3, 6-2
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) vs. Meredith Taylor (SAM) 6-4, 4-2, unfinished
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Eleni Liakonis (SAM) 5-7, 4-0, unfinished                                 Â
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Libby Blair (SAM) 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: (3,6,2)
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Ekaterina Tikhonko / 0 [BELL]
640
72UF
#2 Singles Match
12
Vendula Kryslova / 0 [BELL]
12
66
#3 Singles Match
123
Marika Caruk / 0 [BELL]
440
64UF
#4 Singles Match
123
Nikola Kollaritsch / 0 [BELL]
540
75UF
#5 Singles Match
12
Reese Parker / 0 [BELL]
40
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Yeva Kramarova / 0 [BELL]
30
66
Order of Finish:
2,5,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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