MSU Tennis Looks To Rebound In 10 A.M. Sunday Match Against Arkansas
State (6-6, 0-3) is looking to pick up its first conference win of the season, after recently dropping a tough 4-3 decision at home this past Friday to No. 62 LSU. Prior to its current losing streak the Bulldogs had won four straight.
MSU is led by 100th-ranked sophomore Louis Cant who is an impressive 9-2 this season. Cant recently took down No. 8 nationally ranked Eric Quigley of Kentucky in straight sets last Friday in Lexington, Ky.
MState sophomore Daniel Sanchez has been victorious seven times, boasting a stellar 7-2 record in dual match play and is 3-1 in home action. Sophomore Artem Ilyushin of MSU has won four of his previous six matches and is 1-2 in the conference.
Bulldog junior Antonio Lastre is tied for the second most wins for State with seven and is looking to get back on the winning track after dropping his previous three matches. No. 101 nationally ranked sophomore George Coupland of MSU recently got back in the win column this past Friday with a straight-set victory against LSU, snapping a two-match skid.
In doubles, MSU is paced by the tandem of Cant and senior Chris Doerr, who sport a 7-3 record and are 2-1 in SEC play. Bulldog duo Coupland and Ilyushin are currently 5-5 and 2-1 in the SEC.
Sunday's match against Arkansas is the 28th all time between the two schools, while MSU holds a 20-7 advantage, but have dropped the three previous home meetings against the Razorbacks. Last season State upended Arkansas, 4-3 in Fayeteville, Ark. Arkansas is 8-5 this season and 1-2 in SEC play, while going 2-5 against ranked opponents
The Hogs are led by junior Chris Nott who stands at 57th in the country and is 9-3 in dual match play. Freshman Gregoire Lehmann of Arkansas has a team-high 10 wins in dual match action. Razorback sophomore Matt Walters is an impressive 7-1, while true freshman Mike Ward is close behind with a record of 5-1.
Arkansas doubles team Nott and Dmitry Lebedev rank No. 26 nationally and boast a record of 9-2, while Razorback tandem Taylor King and Bradwin Williams are 56th in the country with an unblemished record of 6-0.
State will serve up against Arkansas at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The match will be held at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre, and admission is free at all MSU home tennis matches. Live stats are available at www.mstateathletics.com.