Sunday, February 22
Starkville
12 p.m.
Mississippi State
1
vs
4
Alabama
Mississippi States collects its First Loss of the Season
February 22, 2026 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State women's tennis collected it's first loss of the season falling to No. 29 Alabama in SEC opener.
The Bulldogs split its fourth double header of the season with a loss to Alabama, 4-1 and a victory against Alabama A&M, 4-0.
The Bulldogs opened the day against No. 29 Alabama by claiming the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson defeated Alabama's Addison Bowman/ Amina Salibayeva, 6-4, on court three. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga clinched the doubles point on court two with a 6-3 victory over Maria Andrienko/ Klara Milicevic.
The crimson tide came back in singles play, taking the first four courts to clinch the match.
Later in the day, MSU ended on a high note by defeating Alabama A&M, 4-0. State secured the doubles point to gain early momentum. The Bulldogs then sealed the match with three straight singles victories from Pitta, Noemie Oliveras and Cohen to complete the shutout.
The Bulldogs now hold a 28-3 record in non-conference action under head coach Chris Hooshyar and remain undefeated in non-conference play this season.
Match Notes
• Freshman, Mia Robinson is undefeated in singles this season
• Thessy Ntondele Zinga is undefeated in doubles with partners Emma Cohen and Chiara Di Genova
• State continues their non-conference winning streak of 21 under Coach Hooshyar
• MSU is 24-6 when competing in doubleheaders.
Up Next
Mississippi State will stay in Starkville to take on Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 26 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Match Results vs. #29 Alabama
Doubles
1. Chiara Di Genova/ Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (MSST) vs. Karla Bartel/ Kristina Paskauskas (BAMA) - 5-3 unf.
2. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) def. Maria Andrienko/ Klara Milicevic (BAMA) - 6-3
3. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson (MSST) def. Addison Bowman/ Amina Salibayeva (BAMA) - 6-4
Mississippi State won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3,2
Singles
1. #53 Kristina Paskauskas (BAMA) def. Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (MSST) - 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
2. Klara Milicevic (BAMA) def. Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) - 6-2, 6-3
3. Maria Andrienko (BAMA) def. Chiara Di Genova (MSST) - 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
4. Karla Bartel (BAMA) def. Carolina Troiano (MSST) - 6-3, 6-2
5. Mia Robinson (MSST) vs. Addison Bowman (BAMA) - 6-4, 6-6 (4-1) unf.
6. Noemie Oliveras (MSST) vs. Amina Salibayeva (BAMA) - 6-4, 4-6, 2-5 unf.
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 3
Match Results vs. Alabama A&M
Doubles
1. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) def. Alicia Owegi/ Nardine Salem (AAMU) – 6-2
2. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson (MSST) def. Gabrielle Henderson/ Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) – 6-2
3. Tstitsi Mahere/ Melissa Mwakha (AAMU) def. Chiara Di Genova/ Noemie Oliveras (MSST) – 6-0
Mississippi State won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
Singles
1. Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) vs. Alicia Owegi (AAMU) – 6-0, 3-2 unf.
2. Chiara Di Genova (MSST) vs. Gabrielle Henderson (AAMU) – 6-2, 2-1
3. Carolina Troiano (MSST) vs. Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) – 6-4, 1-0 unf.
4. Noemie Oliveras (MSST) def. Melissa Mwakha (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Athina Pitta (MSST) def. Nardine Salem (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-2
6. Emma Cohen (MSST) def. Lavynia Vieira de Sa (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 4 ,6
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
– HailState.com –
The Bulldogs split its fourth double header of the season with a loss to Alabama, 4-1 and a victory against Alabama A&M, 4-0.
The Bulldogs opened the day against No. 29 Alabama by claiming the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson defeated Alabama's Addison Bowman/ Amina Salibayeva, 6-4, on court three. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga clinched the doubles point on court two with a 6-3 victory over Maria Andrienko/ Klara Milicevic.
The crimson tide came back in singles play, taking the first four courts to clinch the match.
Later in the day, MSU ended on a high note by defeating Alabama A&M, 4-0. State secured the doubles point to gain early momentum. The Bulldogs then sealed the match with three straight singles victories from Pitta, Noemie Oliveras and Cohen to complete the shutout.
The Bulldogs now hold a 28-3 record in non-conference action under head coach Chris Hooshyar and remain undefeated in non-conference play this season.
Match Notes
• Freshman, Mia Robinson is undefeated in singles this season
• Thessy Ntondele Zinga is undefeated in doubles with partners Emma Cohen and Chiara Di Genova
• State continues their non-conference winning streak of 21 under Coach Hooshyar
• MSU is 24-6 when competing in doubleheaders.
Up Next
Mississippi State will stay in Starkville to take on Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 26 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Match Results vs. #29 Alabama
Doubles
1. Chiara Di Genova/ Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (MSST) vs. Karla Bartel/ Kristina Paskauskas (BAMA) - 5-3 unf.
2. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) def. Maria Andrienko/ Klara Milicevic (BAMA) - 6-3
3. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson (MSST) def. Addison Bowman/ Amina Salibayeva (BAMA) - 6-4
Mississippi State won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3,2
Singles
1. #53 Kristina Paskauskas (BAMA) def. Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (MSST) - 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
2. Klara Milicevic (BAMA) def. Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) - 6-2, 6-3
3. Maria Andrienko (BAMA) def. Chiara Di Genova (MSST) - 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
4. Karla Bartel (BAMA) def. Carolina Troiano (MSST) - 6-3, 6-2
5. Mia Robinson (MSST) vs. Addison Bowman (BAMA) - 6-4, 6-6 (4-1) unf.
6. Noemie Oliveras (MSST) vs. Amina Salibayeva (BAMA) - 6-4, 4-6, 2-5 unf.
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 3
Match Results vs. Alabama A&M
Doubles
1. Emma Cohen/ Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) def. Alicia Owegi/ Nardine Salem (AAMU) – 6-2
2. Athina Pitta/ Mia Robinson (MSST) def. Gabrielle Henderson/ Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) – 6-2
3. Tstitsi Mahere/ Melissa Mwakha (AAMU) def. Chiara Di Genova/ Noemie Oliveras (MSST) – 6-0
Mississippi State won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
Singles
1. Thessy Ntondele Zinga (MSST) vs. Alicia Owegi (AAMU) – 6-0, 3-2 unf.
2. Chiara Di Genova (MSST) vs. Gabrielle Henderson (AAMU) – 6-2, 2-1
3. Carolina Troiano (MSST) vs. Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) – 6-4, 1-0 unf.
4. Noemie Oliveras (MSST) def. Melissa Mwakha (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Athina Pitta (MSST) def. Nardine Salem (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-2
6. Emma Cohen (MSST) def. Lavynia Vieira de Sa (AAMU) – 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 4 ,6
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
– HailState.com –
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
12
Karla Bartel/ Kristina Paskauskas [BAMA]
3UF
5UF
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Kristina Paskauskas / 0 [BAMA]
76
64
#2 Singles Match
12
Klara Milicevic / 0 [BAMA]
66
23
#3 Singles Match
12
Maria Andrienko / 0 [BAMA]
76
63
#4 Singles Match
12
Karla Bartel / 0 [BAMA]
66
32
#5 Singles Match
123
Addison Bowman / 0 [BAMA]
46UF
66UF
#6 Singles Match
1234
Amina Salibayeva / 0 [BAMA]
465UF
642UF
Order of Finish:
4,2,1,3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ 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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