Bulldogs Sweep ITA Kickoff Weekend, Advance to ITA Indoor National Championship

Saturday, January 24

Starkville

11 a.m.

Mississippi State

Auburn

Bulldogs Sweep ITA Kickoff Weekend, Advance to ITA Indoor National Championship

January 24, 2026 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Tad Couch, Athletic Communications Student Intern

STARKVILLE – For the fourth consecutive match, Mississippi State surrendered the doubles point, but once again the Bulldogs responded with authority in singles to secure the victory.
State opened doubles play with momentum as Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano delivered a convincing 6-2 win over No. 49 Nicholas Heng and Joseph Phillips.

However, Auburn answered on the remaining courts. The No. 2 duo of Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez battled back after falling behind and forced a tiebreak against No. 24 Billy Blaydes and Freddy Blaydes, but Auburn edged the Bulldogs 7-3 in the breaker to claim the doubles point.

The Bulldogs wasted no time flipping the match in singles. No. 37 Martinez Serrano and Baroni each cruised to straight-set victories, giving State its first lead of the day. No. 13 Jovanovic followed with his first ranked win of the season, defeating No. 36 Billy Blaydes 6-4, 6-4 to extend the advantage.

With the match within reach, Bryan Hernandez Cortes was unable to close after dropping a third-set decision to Auburn's Manel Lazaro, keeping the Tigers alive.
Freshman No. 125 Raphael Vaksmann sealed the win for the Bulldogs, showcasing poise beyond his years in a three-set battle. Vaksmann outlasted Alan Bojarski 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-2 to clinch the match.

The victory underscored Mississippi State's depth and resilience, marking the fourth straight match the Bulldogs have dropped the doubles point yet still emerged victorious.

Records
No. 7 Mississippi State (6-0, 0-0 SEC)
Auburn (6-1, 0-0 SEC)

Match Notes
•  Mississippi State swept singles for the first time this season.
• Head Coach Matt Roberts secured his 217th career win as head coach of the Bulldogs. He is now just three away from holding the record for most career wins all time.
• Benito Sanchez Martinez picked up his second ranked singles  dual win in back to back matches.
•  Freshman Raphael Vaksmann remains unbeaten in dual matches to start his collegiate career, winning three straight.
•  Petar Jovanovic picked up his first ranked singles win on the year.

Up Next
No. 7 Mississippi State will travel to Memphis to face the Tigers at 1:00 p.m. on February 1st.

Match Results
Doubles
1. Billy Blaydes and Freddy Blaydes (AUB) def. #2 Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez(MSU) – 7-6(7)
2. Niccolo Baroni/Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. #49 Nicholas Heng and Joey Phillips (AUB) – 6-2
3. Alan Bojarski and Jake Kennedy (AUB) def. Bryan Hernandez Cortes/Michal Novansky (MSU) – 6-4
Indiana won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*
Singles
1. #54 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) vs #40 Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) – 7-5, 2-6, 1-3, unf.
2. #13 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def #38 Billy Blaydes (AUB) – 6-4, 6-4
3. Niccolo Baroni (MSU) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) – 6-0, 6-2
4. #37 Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. Freddy Blaydes (AUB) – 6-3, 6-0
5. #125 Raphael Vaksmann (MSU) (ILL) def. Alan Bojarski (AUB) – 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-1
6. Manel Lazaro (AUB) def. Bryan Hernandez Cortes (MSU) – 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 2, 6, 5*
* Clincher

For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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