Friday, February 21
Starkville
3 p.m.
Mississippi State
4
vs
0
South Alabama
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
No. 61 MSU Makes History, Blanks South Alabama
February 21, 2025 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State women's tennis team dominated South Alabama and improved to 9-0, their best start in program history.
The 4-0 victory was the fifth shutout of the season for MSU.
Quotables:
"I think it's a really, really good step forward because we pretty much, other than an exception of one team, played the same schedule. We got to write off some losses from last year, which was good and I'm really proud of that. I'm proud of the girls for getting this far, starting off with a 9-0 record and getting through the nonconference matches. As far as growth from my team, I have seen a huge amount of growth in practice habits, fight, togetherness and in resiliency on the court. That's what I've wanted to see from them. That's what we've been working on and building, and I think we have a really good squad that put in all of those things into a daily practice." - MSU head coach Chris Hooshyar.
"I think everyone is working very hard. We are doing all the right things, and it's been nice to see that all of our hard work we do daily is starting to pay off." – MSU Senior Alessia Tagliente
Match Notes:
#61 Mississippi State 4, Alabama State 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 21, 2025
Doubles:
1. Delien Kleinhans/Rio Maeda (USA) def. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-4
2. Emma Cohen/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Jade Marie/Lara van der Merwe (USA) 6-1
3. Jayna Clemens/Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Chems Doha Zeghlouli/Kenza Elakili (USA) 7-5
Order of finish: (2,1,3)
Singles:
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) vs. Delien Kleinhans (USA) 7-5, 4-2, unfinished
2. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Rio Maeda (USA) 1-6, 6-6, unfinished
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) 6-4, 6-3
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Lara van der Merwe (USA) 6-3, 6-1
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Jade Marie (USA) 7-6(6), 1-1, unfinished
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Kenza Elakili (USA) 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: (4,3,6)
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The 4-0 victory was the fifth shutout of the season for MSU.
Quotables:
"I think it's a really, really good step forward because we pretty much, other than an exception of one team, played the same schedule. We got to write off some losses from last year, which was good and I'm really proud of that. I'm proud of the girls for getting this far, starting off with a 9-0 record and getting through the nonconference matches. As far as growth from my team, I have seen a huge amount of growth in practice habits, fight, togetherness and in resiliency on the court. That's what I've wanted to see from them. That's what we've been working on and building, and I think we have a really good squad that put in all of those things into a daily practice." - MSU head coach Chris Hooshyar.
"I think everyone is working very hard. We are doing all the right things, and it's been nice to see that all of our hard work we do daily is starting to pay off." – MSU Senior Alessia Tagliente
Match Notes:
- Mississippi State is off to its best ever start in program history with a 9-0 record before SEC play begins.
- MSU has now won 82 of its last 84 non-conference matches at home since Feb. 27, 2013.
- The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 44-5 during their undefeated start to the season.
- Mississippi State has now won 498 matches since the program started in 1975.
- MSU has now won the last three meetings against South Alabama.
- Alessia Tagliente is riding a career-best nine-match winning streak in singles.
- Emma Cohen won the first dual match of her career teaming up with Alessia Tagliente
- The Bulldogs are now 18-1 in non-conference home matches under Chris Hooshyar.
- Jayna Clemens (8-0), Gianna Oboniye (5-0), and Alessia Tagliente (6-0) all still remain unbeaten in singles during dual match play.
#61 Mississippi State 4, Alabama State 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 21, 2025
Doubles:
1. Delien Kleinhans/Rio Maeda (USA) def. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-4
2. Emma Cohen/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Jade Marie/Lara van der Merwe (USA) 6-1
3. Jayna Clemens/Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Chems Doha Zeghlouli/Kenza Elakili (USA) 7-5
Order of finish: (2,1,3)
Singles:
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) vs. Delien Kleinhans (USA) 7-5, 4-2, unfinished
2. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) vs. Rio Maeda (USA) 1-6, 6-6, unfinished
3. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) 6-4, 6-3
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Lara van der Merwe (USA) 6-3, 6-1
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Jade Marie (USA) 7-6(6), 1-1, unfinished
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Kenza Elakili (USA) 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: (4,3,6)
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
Delien Kleinhans / 0 [USA]
520
74UF
#2 Singles Match
123
Rio Maeda / 0 [USA]
660
16UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Chems Doha Zeghlouli / 0 [USA]
43
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Lara van der Merwe / 0 [USA]
31
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Jade Marie / 0 [USA]
610
71UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Kenza Elakili / 0 [USA]
31
66
Order of Finish:
4,3,6
Players Mentioned
/ 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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