State Drops SEC Opener 6-1 To Lady Gamecocks; Kugakolova Tops No. 46 Gira Schofield
State's lone win came by way of senior Anastasia Kugakolova knocking off USC's Gira Schofield, ranked 46th in the country in singles play. The St. Petersburg, Russia native won the first set 6-1, but Schofield forced a third set with her 6-3 win in the second set. Kugakolova finished off the match winning 6-1 in the third. With her win, she now has compiled 62 career wins in Maroon and White which stands seventh on the school's career singles win chart.
At the No. 3 spot, MSU's Martina Banikova took Lady Gamecock Danielle Wiggins to a three-set battle, but faltered in the third set. Wiggins took the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. MSU's Renee Joseph dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to USC's Natasa Vuckovic at the No. 2 position to clinch the match for the visiting Garnet and Black.
MState closes out its season long five-match homestand on Sunday, March 5, welcoming the fourth-ranked Florida Gators to the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre for a match slated to begin at 1 p.m.
Doubles
1. Gira Schofield/Natasa Vuckovic (USC) def. Anastasia Kugakolova/Polina Kokoulina (MSU) 8-2
2. Laura Ganzer/Megan McGavok (USC) def. Martina Banikova/Elna de Villiers (MSU) 8-1
3. Miranda Gutierrez/Danielle Wiggins (USC) def. Renee Joseph/Daniela Juskova (MSU) 8-2
Singles
1. Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. No. 46 Gira Schofield (USC) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
2. Natasa Vuckovic (USC) def. Renee Joseph (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Danielle Wiggins (USC) def. Martina Banikova (MSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Laura Ganzer (USC) def. Daniela Juskova (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Megan McGavok (USC) def. Polina Kokoulina (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Christyn Lucas (USC) def. Elna de Villiers (MSU) 6-3, 6-2