#24 Bulldog Netmen To Begin 2006 Season By Hosting UAB On Friday
State returns six letterwinners from last year's squad, which went 12-10overall and 6-5 in the rugged Southeastern Conference. MSU is led by juniorIvan Bjelica who is currently ranked 74th nationally in singles. SeniorsFlorent Girod and Jose-Carlos Pinto along with sophomores PhilippeFrayssinoux and Pierre Mouillon, are all returning starters for the Bulldogsthis season. Sophomore Josh Irey joins newcomers Ryan Farlow and Eric Lim toround out the roster for the 2006 squad.
The Bulldogs are guided by fifth-year head coach Sylvain Guichard, whohas led MSU to NCAA bids in each of his first four seasons at the helm. In2005, Guichard led the Bulldogs to a top-25 finish and their first winningrecord in the SEC since 2000. The Bulldogs have won 20 of the 21 totalmeetings against UAB and have won 12 straight in the series.
"We are excited about beginning another season,² Guichard, who was named2005 SEC Coach of the Year said. ³We feel that with the guys we have comingback from last season and the addition of our newcomers, we can build on oursuccess from last season and have another solid season.²
Following Friday's matchup, MSU will travel to Jackson, Miss., to battlerival Mississippi on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. in the ninth- annual River Hills Cup.MSU will then return home on Feb. 17 to host South Alabama at 2 p.m.