Mississippi State
South Alabama
Unbeaten Bulldogs Back in Action
February 20, 2025 | Women's Tennis
After a weekend off, No. 61 Mississippi State is back in action this weekend.
Chris Hooshyar's Bulldogs are off to an 8-0 start following four doubleheader sweeps. MSU takes on South Alabama (4-1) on Friday inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion at 3 p.m. to conclude the Bulldogs' eight-match homestand.
On Sunday, State travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 21 Alabama (5-2) inside Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility at 11 a.m. to begin SEC play.
Rankings: Singles – Alabama – Petra Sedlackova (84)
Series history: South Alabama leads the series against Mississippi State 18-9 overall and 9-4 in Starkville. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings. South Alabama's Last win in the series came in 2008.
Alabama has a 38-19 mark against MSU, but the Bulldogs have won seven of the last 10 meetings.
Last Meeting: Mississippi State won its last match against the Jaguars 4-0 in Starkville on Feb. 17, 2017.
Last season, Athina Pitta paired up with Alexandra Mikhailuk to defeat Alabama's seventh-ranked doubles duo 6-0 before the Bulldogs fell to the Crimson Tide 4-0.
Last time out: MSU won a pair of home matches defeating Memphis 4-2 and blanking Alcorn State 7-0 on Feb. 7. South Alabama took down Northwestern State 4-2 at home last Friday. Alabama topped Minnesota 4-1 in Tuscaloosa on Sunday.
MSU Leaders: Overall singles wins – Jayna Clemens (11), Alessia Tagliente (11) Singles wins vs. ranked opponents – N/A Match clinches – Carolina Troiano (3). Overall doubles wins – Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (7) Doubles wins vs. ranked opponents – Tagliente/Chiara Di Genova (1) Doubles clinches – Oboniye/Pitta (4)
Notes to know:
• Since its inaugural season in 1975, Mississippi State has won 497 matches all-time.
• Mississippi State is ranked for the first time under Hooshyar. It's the first time the Bulldogs have been ranked since they were ranked 69th on March 5, 2023.
• State's 8-0 record matches the best start in program history with 2008-09 and 2020-21.
• The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 40-5 during dual-match play.
• MSU has won 81 of its last 83 non-conference home matches dating back to Feb. 27, 2013.
• The Bulldogs are 17-1 in non-conference matches at home under Hooshyar.
• Tagliente currently leads the team with a career-long eight-match winning streak in singles.
• Oboniye and Pitta are a perfect 6-0 in doubles dual match play and have clinched half of State's doubles points this season.
• Troiano has clinched three of the Bulldogs' victories this season and is a perfect 4-0 in singles this spring.
• Clemens (7-0), Oboniye (5-0), Tagliente (5-0), Troiano (4-0) and Ava Rath (2-0) remain unbeaten in singles during dual match play.
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
