Bulldog Netmen Close Out Regular Season Saturday By Hosting #7 Mississippi
The Bulldogs (6-12, 3-7), enter Saturday's match trying to halt a three-match losing skid. After a string of three consecutive victories, MSU has since dropped three straight, all coming against top-25 opponents. Bulldog juniors Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux currently lead the Bulldogs in wins, as both have compiled identical 22-13 records. Bjelica, ranked 37th nationally, is 10-7 in dual matches this year including a 5-4 clip in conference play. Frayssinoux, ranked 75th, is coming off an upset victory over Tennessee's 36th-ranked Bobby Cameron last weekend in Knoxville, Tenn. Bjelica and Frayssinoux also form MSU's #1 doubles team, as they are 7-7 in dual matches this season.
Mississippi comes into Saturday's matchup sporting a 19-3 overall record, including an 8-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels are led by Erling Tveit and Robbye Poole. Tveit is ranked 19th nationally and is 24-10 overall this season. Poole, ranked 40th, is 28-8 overall this season including a 9-0 mark at the #3 singles position. In doubles, UM has two teams ranked. Tveit and Eric Claesson are 30th while the duo of Jakob Klaesson and Chris Rea is 32nd.
The Rebels currently hold an 18-match winning streak over State dating back 1999. In an earlier meeting this season in Jackson, Miss., UM downed MSU in the annual River Hills Cup. In the series dating back to 1969, the Rebels lead 37-22, including a slight 10-9 advantage in Starkville.
Following Saturday's match, MSU will prepare for the SEC Tournament which begins next week in Baton Rouge, La. Hosted by LSU, first-round action will get underway on Thursday and run through Sunday's final.