Mississippi State
Texas Tech
MSU Tennis Ends Great Weekend At Blue/Gray WIth Third Shut-Out
February 26, 2012 | Men's Tennis
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Posting their third-straight shutout of the weekend, Mississippi State's 15th-ranked men's tennis squad (9-2) downed No. 23 Texas Tech (6-4) 4-0 in their Sunday afternoon match at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic.
The win came on the heels of identical 4-0 blankings of #59 Cornell and #44 Boise State on Saturday and extended MSU's win streak to five in a row. For the weekend, State only dropped two sets in 18 singles matches played.
As Sunday's matches were played in normal dual-match fashion, play began with doubles.
In a dominating performance on court 2 for State was the duo of George Coupland and Artem Ilyushin. Not allowing a single game, the MSU tandem ousted Texas Tech's Raphael Pfister and Francisco Zambon 8-0. However, the Red Raiders would battle back as the duo of Raony Carvahlo and Rafael Garcia upended State's 20th-ranked pair of Louis Cant and Malte Stropp 8-4 in the top spot.
The doubles clincher came from No. 3 where James Chaudry and Ethan Wilkinson battled TTU's Gonzalo Escobar and Vitar Manzini. Up 7-4 at one point, Texas Tech battled back to 7-6 but the Dogs were able to break for the match as they earned the 8-6 victory and the doubles point for MSU.
Keeping the momentum in singles action, the Bulldogs took first sets on all six courts against the Red Raiders.
Taking the quick match on court 5 for State was 42nd-ranked Coupland. With a 6-1 mark in the first, Coupland breezed through his Texas Tech foe, Pfister, posting a 6-1, 6-2 decision and giving MSU the 2-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, MSU's 71st-ranked Ilyushin earned his second-straight victory over a top 35 opponent in No. 33 Escobar. Taking a 6-2, 6-1 decision in the top spot, Ilyushin extended the Bulldog lead to 3-0.
Clinching the match for MSU for the second-straight time on the weekend, sophomore Zach White took a 6-2, 6-4 decision from Texas Tech's Gabriel Wanderley on court 6, giving Mississippi State the 4-0 triumph over the Red Raiders.
At that point, all remaining play was suspended. Chaudry had a 6-3, 5-4 advantage on court 2 while the 109th-ranked Stropp was at 7-5, 1-2 in the No. 3 position. No. 83 Cant held a 6-2, 4-2 advantage in the fourth spot.
Mississippi State opens SEC play this upcoming weekend as they play host to No. 49 Alabama on Friday, March 2 at 2 p.m. CT and 14th-ranked Auburn at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 4.
#15 Mississippi State
4, #23 Texas Tech 0
2/26/12 - Lagoon Park Tennis Center - Mongtomery, Ala.
DOUBLES
1) Raony Carvahlo/Rafael Garcia (TTU) def. #20 Louis Cant/Malte Stropp
(MSU) 8-4
2) George Coupland/Artem Ilyushin (MSU) def. Raphael Pfister/Francisco Zambon (TTU)
8-0
3) James Chaudry/Ethan Wilkinson (MSU) def. Gonzalo Escobar/Vitar Manzini (TTU)
8-6
SINGLES
1) #71 Ilyushin (MSU) def. #33 Escobar (TTU) 6-2, 6-1
2) Chaudry (MSU) vs. Carvahlo (TTU) 6-3, 5-4 (susp.)
3) #109 Stropp (MSU) vs. Garcia (TTU) 7-5, 1-2 (susp.)
4) #83 Cant (MSU) vs. Zambon (TTU) 6-2, 4-2 (susp.)
5) #42 Coupland (MSU) def. Pfister (TTU) 6-1, 6-2
6) Zach White (MSU) def. Gabriel Wanderley (TTU) 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish... Doubles (2,1,3)... Singles (5,1,6)
Players Mentioned
