Mississippi State
California
No. 21 MSU Men?s Tennis Falls To No. 15 Cal In ITA Kickoff Finale
January 24, 2015 | Men's Tennis
BERKELEY, Calif. – Despite jumping out in front early, the No. 21 Mississippi State men's tennis Bulldogs (3-1) could not hold off a rally from No. 15 California (4-0), dropping a 4-2 decision to the home squad in the finals of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Saturday.
The Bulldogs jumped out in front 2-1 after taking the doubles point and a straight-sets win from Juan Cruz Estevarena. However, State could not fend off a comeback from the Golden Bears, who took victories on courts two, four, five and six to seal their spot in the ITA National Team Indoors in February.
Doubles play showed a strong start from the Maroon and White on Saturday, as State took victories on courts two and three to claim the 1-0 lead. Mate Cutura and Tassilo Schmid downed the 40th-ranked Cal team of Andre Goransson and Oskar Wikberg 6-2 to start off play. The win was the first ranked victory for the duo.
While MSU and Cal battled it out on one, State's tandem of Julian Cash and Robin Haden put together an inspiring effort on court three. After Cal's duo of Filip Bergevi and Mads Engsted fought back to tie the match at 5-5, Cash and Haden turned on the jets, earning a break and going on to win 7-5 to give MSU the doubles point.
Play at the top spot between MSU's Estevarena and Florian Lakat and the No. 42 Golden Bear team of Gregory Bayane and Chase Melton was suspended at the clinch, tied at 5-5.
Despite falling in doubles, Cal would turn the tide against the Bulldogs in singles play. The Golden Bears took the first set on five of the six courts to start out singles competition. Cal evened the score at 1-1 for a short moment, as J.T. Nishimura defeated MSU's Cutura 6-0, 6-2 on court four. Estevarena would push MSU back out in front, 2-1, after he defeated Cal's Billy Griffith 6-1, 6-1 on court three.
Cal would respond to MSU's lead by grabbing victories on courts two, five and six. The Golden Bears' No. 93 Bergevi defeated MSU's No. 63 Schmid 6-3, 6-2 on court two to even the score again, this time at 2-2.
MSU's Rishab Agarwal put up a spirited effort on court five after dropping the opening set, but could not recover from being down a double break, falling 7-5, 6-4 to Cal's Wikberg.
With Cal a point away from victory, MSU forced a tiebreaker on court one and was almost simultaneously forced into a breaker on six. On the final court, State's Haden fell just short of forcing a third set, falling 6-4, 7-6(4) to Cal's Bayane, giving the Golden Bears the win.
Play on court one was suspended as MSU's Lakat had just came within one in the second-set tiebreaker. Cal's Goransson led Lakat 6-3, 6-6 (5-4).
The Bulldogs will now return home next weekend to the friendly confines of the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre for a trio of matches. State kicks off with a Friday, Jan. 30, doubleheader against No. 75 Rice (1 p.m. CT) and Alcorn State (6 p.m.). MSU will close with a Sunday, Feb. 1, meeting against 48th-ranked Texas Tech at 11 a.m.
For more information on Mississippi State men's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateMT.
No. 15 California 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
January 24, 2014 – I.W. Hellman Tennis Center – Berkeley, Calif.
Doubles
1. Juan Cruz Estevarena/Florian Lakat (MSU) vs. No. 42 Gregory Bayane/Chase Melton (UC) 5-5, susp.
2. Mate Cutura/Tassilo Schmid (MSU) def. No. 40 Andre Goransson/Oskar Wikberg (UC) 6-2
3. Julian Cash/Robin Haden (MSU) def. Filip Bergevi/Mads Engsted (UC) 7-5
Singles
1. Lakat (MSU) vs. No. 106 Goransson (UC) 3-6, 6-6(4-5), susp.
2. No. 93 Bergevi (UC) def. No. 63 Schmid (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Estevarena (MSU) def. Billy Griffith (UC) 6-1, 6-1
4. J.T. Nishimura (UC) def. Cutura (MSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Wikberg (UC) def. Rishab Agarwal (MSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Bayane (UC) def. Haden (MSU) 6-4, 7-6(4)
Order of finish… Doubles (2,3)… Singles (4,3,2,5,6)
Players Mentioned
