Mississippi State
Memphis
Unbeaten Bulldogs Hosting Friday Doubleheader
February 06, 2025 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE – The doubleheader format has been kind to Mississippi State so far this season.
Chris Hooshyar's Bulldogs are off to a 6-0 start following three doubleheader sweeps. MSU has two twin bills remaining before the start of conference play beginning with Memphis (1-5) and Alcorn State (3-5) on Friday inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion at noon and 4 p.m. respectively.
Rankings: N/A
Series history: Mississippi State leads overall series 20-8 overall against Memphis and is 11-0 in Starkville. The Bulldogs have also won 17 of the last 18 meetings.
MSU is a perfect 9-0 against Alcorn State – all at home – and have seven shutouts over that span.
Last Meeting: The Tigers got the better of Mississippi State in a tight 4-3 match in Memphis last year. Athina Pitta and Alessia Tagliente were part of doubles wins that helped the Bulldogs claim the early doubles point during that match.
The Bulldogs beat the Lady Braves 4-1 during their last matchup in Starkville in 2022. Tagliente contributed to that victory with a win in both singles and doubles.
Last time out: MSU won a pair of 4-1 matches at home against UAB and Arkansas State this past Sunday. Memphis lost both its matches in West Lafayette, Indiana last weekend, falling 4-1 to Xavier and 4-3 at Purdue. Alcorn State topped Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College 5-2 in Vicksburg on Tuesday.
MSU wins leaders: Singles – Tagliente (9), Jayna Clemens (9); Doubles Team – Pitta and Gianna Oboniye (5)
Notes to know:
• This year marks the 51st season of women's tennis at Mississippi State after playing its inaugural season in 1975. The Bulldogs have won 495 matches all-time.
• The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 29-3 during dual-match play.
• MSU has won 79 of its last 81 non-conference home matches dating back to Feb. 27, 2013.
• The Bulldogs are 15-1 in non-conference matches at home under Hooshyar.
• Women's tennis posted a 3.58 grade point average as a team during the fall semester. It was the second-highest GPA of any women's team at MSU during the fall.
• Tagliente currently leads the team with a six-match winning streak in singles.
• Two doubles teams, Oboniye and Pitta along with Carolina Troiano and Maria Rizzolo, are a perfect 4-0 in dual-match play.
• Troiano has clinched half of the Bulldogs' victories this season. The freshman clinched Sunday's win against Arkansas State and is a perfect 4-0 in singles this spring.
• Memphis assistant coach Daryl Greenan served as MSU's head coach from 2010-23.
• The Bulldogs signed five-star prospect Mia Robinson out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Robinson is the top-ranked recruit in the state of South Carolina and the No. 14 prospect in the country. She is set to join the team in the fall.
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
