Bulldog Netmen Climb To #19 Nationally In Latest Poll
After starting the season 5-3, State has climbed from 39th to 19th in the country in the last two weeks due to consecutive conference wins over Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Alabama, the first three being upsets. The 4-0 mark is MSU's best league opening since 1997 when it started 6-0 in the SEC. MSU's current 9-3 overall record is its best record after 12 matches since the 1998 Bulldog squad started 10-2.
State joins No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Mississippi, No. 8 Florida and No. 14 Tennessee as the only undefeated teams in the SEC at present.
"Our guys have been working very hard so far this season," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "We have been steadily improving and that has been evident in our results lately. We are proud to be back in the top 25, but we have a lot of work left to do this season. This is the SEC where you have to earn every win you get, and we have a very tough schedule still in front of us. But we are looking forward to the challenges that are coming up."
The Bulldogs are off from competition this weekend, but will resume a five-match SEC road swing on Friday, March 25, when they travel to meet fifth-ranked Georgia in Athens. MSU then visits No. 14 Tennessee (March 27) and No. 61 Arkansas (Apr. 1). The Bulldogs return home Apr. 3 to welcome No. 20 LSU to start a four-match homestand that will end the regular season slate.