Lady Bulldogs Drop Match To No. 25 Lady Tigers
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University women's tennis team fell 5-2 to the No. 25 Lady Tigers of LSU Sunday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
For the second time this weekend, State won the doubles point to start the match. MSU's duo of Hayley Rudman and Tarryn Rudman defeated Marina Chiarelli and Jessica Ferguson at No. 2 in an 8-5 decision. Clinching the point for the Lady Bulldogs, Anastasia Kugakolova and Magdi Rekasi were victorious over Rocio Fantilli and Amanda Mang at No. 1, 8-3. On court three, Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala fell 8-0 to Camila Caliari and Daysi Espinal.
LSU came out strong for singles and took five of the six matches to win the team match 5-2. MSU's Kugakolova fell in the first set to LSU's Fantilli 6-3, but Kugakolova fought back and won the second and third sets, 6-2, 6-2. Hirt dropped her match on court one to 62nd-ranked Ferguson, 6-1, 7-5. Tarryn Rudman, playing at No. 3 for the second time this season, fell 6-3, 6-3 to Chiarelli.
On court four, Rekasi fell 6-1, 6-1 to Mang. Hayley Rudman faced Lauren Seaman on court five. Rudman dropped the match 6-1, 6-1. Yumi Ueda was defeated by Daysi Espinal at No. 6, 6-3, 6-1.
Next, State hosts the Gators of Florida in a 2:30 p.m. match on Friday, April 2 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
LSU 5, Mississippi State 2
Doubles
1. Kugakolova/Rekasi (MSU) def. Fantilli/Mang (LSU) 8-3
2. Rudman/Rudman (MSU) def. Chiarelli/Ferguson (LSU) 8-5
3. Caliari/Espinal (LSU) def.Hirt/Switala (MSU) 8-0
Singles
1. #62 Jessica Ferguson (LSU) def. Marcelle Hirt (MSU) 6-1, 7-5
2. Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. Rocio Fantilli (LSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. Tarryn Rudman (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Amanda Mang (LSU) def. Magdi Rekasi (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Hayley Rudman (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Daysi Espinal (LSU) def. Yumi Ueda (MSU) 6-3, 6-1