Mississippi State
UAB
Bulldogs Conclude Weekend With Pair Of Wins
February 02, 2025 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – For the second-consecutive season, Mississippi State began the season 6-0 after collecting a pair of victories inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion on Sunday.
The Bulldogs started the day by taking down UAB 4-1 and concluded the day with another 4-1 victory this time over Arkansas State.
"I'm really proud of the group this weekend," head coach Chris Hooshyar remarked. It was a tough weekend. Again, I'm proud of them. We had players playing that were only supposed to play two or three matches, and they played four matches. They stepped up for each other, and they covered each other. That's what being a team is. It's a huge step in the right direction for the program."
MSU's win over UAB marked the Bulldog's 21st-consecutive win over the Blazers and gives State a 20-2 mark against UAB at home.
Mississippi State scored first securing the doubles point versus UAB. Maria Rizzolo and Carolina Troiano teamed up to take down Nera Tesankic and Mackenzie White 6-3. Jayna Clemens and Chiara Di Genova picked up their first doubles win together defeating Kristyna Damaskova and Klara Kajabova 6-1.
After dropping the first singles set, State persevered to take the next three sets. Di Genova defeated White 6-3, 7-5, and Clemens took down Tesankic 6-3, 7-5. After dropping the first set 6-3, Gianna Oboniye battled back to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-1 over Gresi Bajri and clinched the match for the Bulldogs. It was her first-career match clinch.
Following a break, Mississippi State took on Arkansas State and improved to 8-0 all time against the Red Wolves.
Rizzolo and Troiano paired up once again to earn their second doubles win of the day defeating Lily Cvanciger and Hanmare McAslin 6-4 to begin doubles play. Oboniye and Pitta outlasted the duo of Anna Grigoreva and Carla Muro Catellvi 7-6(2) to give State an early 1-0 lead.
To begin singles action, Oboniye handled Grigoreva 6-3, 6-3 and extended the Bulldog lead to 2-0. After Arkansas State cut down the lead to 2-1, Pitta quickly responded by taking down McAslin 6-3, 6-3. Troiano wasn't far behind defeating Sarah Millard 6-4, 6-3 and clinching the match for State. For Troiano, it was her third match-clincher of the season. Â
"It's the fact that we're all together, always supporting each other and all the fans supporting us. It just brings me up a lot." Troiano said. "It pushes me to never give up, always stay in the point and be more resilient!"
Mississippi State is back in action on Friday, February 7, for another doubleheader. The Bulldogs will host Memphis at 12 p.m. and Alcorn State at 4 p.m.
Mississippi State 4, UAB 1
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 2, 2025Â
Doubles:
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) vs. Gresi Bajri/Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) 4-5, unfinished
2. Maria Rizzolo/Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Nera Tesankic/Mackenzie White (UAB) 6-3
3. Jayna Clemens/Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Kristyna Damaskova/Klara Kajabova (UAB) 6-1
Order of finish: (3,2)
Singles:
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Gresi Bajri (UAB) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) def. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Kristyna Damaskova (UAB) 6-7(3), 6-3, 3-0, unfinished
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Klara Kajabova (UAB) 6-4, 5-7, unfinished
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Mackenzie White (UAB) 6-2, 7-5
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) def. Nera Tesankic (UAB) 6-3, 7-5
Order of finish: (2,5,6,1)
Mississippi State 4, Arkansas State 1
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 2, 2025Â
Doubles:
1. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Anna Grigoreva/Carla Muro Castellvi (ASU) 7-6(2)
2. Maria Rizzolo/Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Lily Cvanciger/Abigail Thurmer (ASU) 6-4
3. Jayna Clemens/Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Sarah Millard/Hanmare McAlslin (ASU) 6-6(4), unfinished
Order of finish: (2,1)
Singles:
1. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Anna Grigoreva (ASU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Lily Cvanciger (ASU) def. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Carolina Troiano (MSU) def. Sarah Millard (ASU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Athina Pitta (MSU) def. Hanmare McAslin (ASU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) vs. Carlo Muro Castellvi (ASU) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
6. Jayna Clemens (MSU) vs. Loles Carbo Chova (ASU) 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
Order of finish: (1,2,4,3)
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:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,5,6,1
