Bulldog Duo Falls In First Round Of NCAA Doubles
Carvalho and Pinto, ranked 29th nationally, opened their match withWashington's 18th-ranked tandem of Daniel Chu and Alex Slovic by rallyingfrom a 5-3, first-set deficit to take the opening frame 7-5. But the Huskypair would pose a comeback to take the final two sets (with just one servicebreak in each) and the match 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
The setback also ended the senior Carvalho's Bulldog career that spannedfive seasons. A two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athleteand Academic all-SEC selection, Carvalho registered over 120 career winsduring his time in Starkville. Pinto, a junior, will return for State in2005-06.
Head coach Sylvain Guichard and assistant coach Michael Metz, who werenamed Southeast Region Coaches of the Year for their respective positionsthis season by the ITA, led State to its 15th consecutive NCAA appearancethis season. The Bulldogs finished with a 12-10 overall record, their firstwinning mark since 2001. MSU also finished ranked 25th nationally in thefinal ITA rankings that were released Thursday, marking MSU's first top 25finish since ?’01. The Bulldogs went 6-5 in the SEC, which sent 10 of itsteams to the NCAAs.
MSU RESULTS FROM THE NCAA DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
5/26/05 - College Station, Texas
First Round - #18 Daniel Chu/Alex Slovic (Washington) def. #29 LuizCarvalho/Jose-Carlos Pinto (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)