No. 55 Rice Tops No. 66 Lady Bulldogs 4-2 On Friday
MSU freshman Martina Banikova moved to 3-0 on the season at the No. 3 position with a three-set win over the Owl's Alanna Rodgers. Banikova fought back after falling in the first set 3-6 to win the next two 6-2, 7-5. At the No. 6 spot, State's Tatiana Feit won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 against RU's Kimberly Patenaude.
Senior Anastasia Kugakolova dropped her second consecutive three set match, falling to No. 31 Blair DiSesa. The first two sets were determined by tie breakers with Kugakolova taking the first set 7-6(4). DiSesa came back to win 7-6(4), 6-2. The match with Rice featured three matches that were determined in the third set. The No. 5 position went three sets with RU's Medeja Egic getting by MState's Elna de Villiers 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-2.
The Lady Bulldogs trek to Dallas, Texas for a Sunday, Feb. 12, tilt with the Mustangs of SMU at Haggar Tennis Stadium. Match time is slated for 10:30 a.m.
#55 Rice 4, #66 Mississippi State 2
Doubles
Did Not Play
Singles
1. No. 31 Blair DiSesa (RU) def. Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-2
2. Christine Dao (RU) def. Renée Joseph (MSU), 7-5, 7-5
3. Martina Banikova (MSU) def. Alanna Rodgers (RU), 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Tiffany Lee (RU) def. Polina Kokoulina (MSU), 6-4, 6-0
5. Medeja Egic (RU) def. Elna de Villiers (MSU), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-2
6. Tatiana Feit (MSU) def. Kimberley Patenaude (RU), 6-4, 6-3
(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)