Mississippi State
Florida
No. 27 Bulldog Women?s Tennis Falls 5-2 At No. 2 Florida
March 22, 2015 | Women's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Although Mississippi State would claim the final two singles matches of the day, it wasn't enough to take down the No. 2 Florida Gators, as the 27th-ranked Bulldogs fell 5-2 Sunday afternoon at UF's Ring Tennis Complex.
With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 13-5 overall and 3-4 in the SEC. UF improved to 15-1 and continues to lead the SEC, now standing 7-0 in the league.
Florida wasted little time getting on the board in doubles, as the Gators' 22nd-ranked duo of Josie Kuhlman and Peggy Porter defeated State's tandem of Timea Guibe and Louise Ronaldson 8-0 on court three. UF delivered the doubles clincher moments later on No. 2, as MSU's Jasmine Lee and Georgiana Patrasc fell 8-2 to Spencer Liang and Belinda Woolcock.
Doubles play was suspended after the clinch, with MSU's Martina Frantova and Naomi Tran trailing 5-4 on court one against Florida's fourth-ranked tandem of Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan.
MSU started off strong in singles, leading the first sets in three of the six matches at one point. However, the Gators would rally, taking five of the six opening sets. The State newcomer Lee had her six-match winning streak snapped with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to UF's fifth-ranked Austin at No. 1. MSU freshman Jennifer Brown was the next Gator victim, dropping a 6-1, 6-2 decision to UF's No. 38 Kourtney Keegan at No. 5. The Gators then earned the clinch on court two, as Bulldog Patrasc fell 6-3, 6-3 to sixth-ranked Gator Josie Kuhlman.
After Frantova's 7-5, 6-0 loss on court three to UF's 20th-ranked Brianna Morgan, the Bulldogs were able to grab the final two matches of the afternoon, as both Ronaldson and Guibe earned their first ranked victories of the season. Ronaldson would do so in a tough 7-5, 0-6, 1-0(6) decision on court four against UF's 32nd-ranked Woolcock, while Guibe would rally after dropping the first set to take a hard-fought 2-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0(11) victory at No. 6 against 119th-ranked Porter.
“It was a good effort against one of the best teams in the country,” said coach Daryl Greenan. “We had some opportunities, but it hurt us when we didn't capitalize. They outplayed us in doubles, but we did a solid job picking up a couple of ranked wins in singles.”
Mississippi State will now look ahead to next weekend, as the Bulldogs begin their final homestand of the regular season. The three-match home tilt will kick off on Friday, March 27, as the Bulldogs host No. 30 Texas A&M at 3 p.m.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateWT.
No. 2 Florida 5, No. 27 Mississippi State 2
March 22, 2015 – Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex – Gainesville, Fla.
Doubles
1. No. 4 Austin/Keegan (UF) vs. Frantova/Tran (MSU), 5-4
2. Liang/Woolcock (UF) def. Lee/Patrasc (MSU), 8-2
3. No. 22 Kuhlman/Porter (UF) def. Guibe/Ronaldson (MSU), 8-0
Singles
1. No. 5 Brooke Austin (UF) def. Jasmine Lee (MSU), 6-3, 6-3
2. No. 6 Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Georgiana Patrasc (MSU), 6-3, 6-3
3. No. 20 Brianna Morgan (UF) def. Martina Frantova (MSU), 7-5, 6-0
4. Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. No. 32 Belinda Woolcock (UF), 7-5, 0-6, 1-0(6)
5. No. 38 Kourtney Keegan (UF) def. Jennifer Brown (MSU), 6-1, 6-2
6. Timea Guibe (MSU) def. No. 119 Peggy Porter (UF), 2-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0(11)
Order of finish
Doubles: 3,2
Singles: 1,5,2,3,4,6
Players Mentioned
