Maroon Friday Update: Nov. 14
November 14, 2025 | Athletics
It is a great day to be a Mississippi State Bulldog!
This morning, our cross country team finished fourth at the South Region Championships – our highest finish since 2016. Freshman standout Nelly Jemeli was the first to cross the line for State, finishing 10th at 19:44.16. Her time is a new 6K program record, and she becomes just the third woman in program history to run sub-20 at that distance. Nelly will wait to see if she earns an individual bid to the NCAA Championships. Tremendous strides were made today for our cross country program – no pun intended. I'm so proud of our student-athletes, Coach Woods, and Coach Stenman-Fahey.
We wish our men's and women's tennis teams good luck as they prepare to compete in the fall NCAA Championships in the coming days. Our women's tennis program, led by Chris Hooshyar, will have the doubles pair of Charolette Kempenaers-Pocz and Gianna Oboniye representing us in Orlando, Florida. Their tournament begins next Wednesday and runs through the weekend. As you get to know our student-athletes, here's a fun fact: Charolette and Gianna will be the youngest doubles team in State history to compete in the individual doubles championships. Go get 'em, ladies!The Dawgs take home fourth at the South Region Championships!#HailState pic.twitter.com/LiJArSpjbl
— Mississippi State T&F (@HailStateTF) November 14, 2025
Our men's tennis team will also head to Orlando to compete in the NCAA Championships. Led by head coach Matt Roberts, three Bulldogs – Petar Jovanovic, Benito Sanchez Martinez, and Bryan Hernandez Cortes – will represent the Maroon and White. Their tournament starts a day earlier on Tuesday. Keep climbing, fellas!
Here in Starkville, for the fourth year in a row, we are hosting NCAA Soccer Tournament action. Our No. 6–seed Bulldogs will face Lipscomb at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday evening, immediately following our men's basketball game versus Southeastern Louisiana at The Hump. If you are in town, please make plans to attend our men's game at 2 p.m. and then head over to the pitch at 5 p.m. Tonight and Sunday, our volleyball team will be competing at Newell Grissom – hosting Missouri at 6 p.m. this evening and Vanderbilt at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Of course, our football team is in Columbia tomorrow to take on Missouri. Just this week, wide receiver Anthony Evans III was added to the prestigious Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Anthony has had a career year, setting new personal bests in receptions (56), yards (680), and touchdowns (4). He leads the SEC in receptions this season and ranks sixth in receiving yards. Anthony now joins his teammate, Brenen Thompson, on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. These guys continue to fight and showcase their relentless effort. We're grateful that you cheer them on with pride. They are working day in and day out to make us all proud.🚨 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 🚨
— Mississippi State Athletics (@HailState) November 14, 2025
Pack The Hump at 2 PM then Pack The Pitch at 5 PM for the NCAA Tournament First Round!
🏀: https://t.co/EYcmGNXsQU
⚽️: https://t.co/qUIzsXSkrQ#HailState pic.twitter.com/BkS3lGWuYg
Congratulations to @AnthonyEvansIII on being named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List! 👏
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) November 10, 2025
The award honors the nation's top receiver in college football — regardless of position.
📰 ‣ https://t.co/CHCZporojB#HailState || @biletnikoffawrd pic.twitter.com/cG4ly7Uyj0
Throughout the year, but especially during this season, we strive to be extra diligent in expressing thanks and showing gratitude. It's something my parents instilled in me, and something we work to instill in our girls. When I saw the video below, I was inspired by the Hubbard family and the incredible people they are. Josh is an amazing young man, an elite competitor, and an outstanding representative of our university and state. Jason and Mrs. Betty are as good as it gets, and I'm grateful to call them part of our Mississippi State family. Check out the video below of Josh during a recent trip to Greenwood, Mississippi.Congratulations to @BrenenThompson_ on being named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List! 👏
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) November 5, 2025
The award honors the most outstanding FBS receiver in college football—regardless of position.
📰 ‣ https://t.co/YXrzpwVMUK#HailState || @biletnikoffawrd pic.twitter.com/VUE9vHHc0y
I hope you all enjoy your weekend!It's always been bigger than me.
— Josh Hubbard (@jhubb_3) November 6, 2025
Thankful to the Josh Hubbard Showcase, Aerus, and US Foods for helping provide food and donations to Ballas Family Community Kitchen, which serves 200 meals a day to the Greenwood, Mississippi, community. pic.twitter.com/5Zcueh9Xed
Hail State!
Zac
