Lady Bulldogs Take 8-0 Mark Into SEC Play; Meet Pair Of Nationally-Ranked Foes
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Off to a school-record 8-0 start, the 57th-ranked Mississippi State women’s tennis team steps into Southeastern Conference play this weekend in a pair of road matches against top-15 teams.
The Lady Bulldogs start out the 2009 SEC schedule against two of the top ranked teams in the conference. MSU travels to 12th-ranked Tennessee Friday for a 2:30 p.m. CT match at UT’s Varsity Tennis courts, before hitting to the road once more to take on second-ranked Georgia Sunday. The contest between State and UGA is slated for Noon CT.
MSU moved up to its highest ranking since 2006 after this past week’s 4-1 victory over East Tennessee State. State is currently ranked No. 57 in the ITA Rankings. In 2006, the Lady Bulldogs claimed a No. 33 national ranking.
Matching the team’s 8-0 mark, junior Radka Ferancova remains undefeated with eight singles victories on the year, taking all in straight sets. The Slovakia native is on a four-match win streak in doubles with teammate Daniela Juskova.
Last week against East Tennessee State, MSU relied on singles to give them the victory. As they have done all season, the Lady Bulldogs persevered through the near eight-hour day to give them the win.
MSU is led at the top spot in singles by senior Martina Banikova. Banikova steps into SEC play for the final time in her Lady Bulldog career. As one of the leaders for this MSU squad, the senior is 3-4 at the top spot in singles play, while also boasting a 6-1 record with fellow senior leader Elna de Villers. The two are currently riding a streak of five consecutive wins at the No. 1 position in doubles.
Meanwhile, State’s freshmen netters also look to continue their strong start. Lady Bulldog rookies Natalia Mayuk and Olesya Tsigvintseva are a combined 11-4 in singles play and boast a 4-3 record in doubles.
Tennessee comes into the match with Mississippi State off to their best start since the 2001 campaign, when it started 14-1. UT is led in singles by 57th-ranked Caitlin Whorisky. The junior also is key for the Lady Volunteers in doubles with teammate Maria Sorbello. Each doubles team for UT is nationally ranked.
A perennial power, the Lady Bulldogs of Georgia come into this weekend with a 9-1 overall record. UGA has four players ranked in singles, with Chelsey Gullickson holding a No. 6 national ranking.
Following this weekend, Mississippi State will return home next Friday, March 13 to take on Auburn in a 2 p.m. CT affair, before facing off with Alabama Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. CT at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.