Mississippi State
Santa Barbara
No. 33 MSU Women?s Tennis Falls To No. 3 Cal In NCAA Second Round
May 09, 2015 | Women's Tennis
BERKELEY, Calif. – Mississippi State's women's tennis team's run in the 2015 NCAA Championship ended on Saturday as the 33rd-ranked Bulldogs dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 3 California in the second round of the tournament at Cal's Hellman Tennis Complex.
With the setback, State ended its 2015 season at 16-12 overall. The Bears improved to 22-3 with the victory and advance to the NCAA round of 16 in Waco, Texas, next week.
With a doubles lineup featuring two top 10 teams, Cal showed that strength in securing the opening point of the day. First off the court was the seventh-ranked Bear tandem of Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr, who downed 51st-ranked Bulldogs Martina Frantova and Georgiana Patrasc 8-1 at the No. 1 spot. Soon after, Cal's No. 5-ranked duo of Klara Fabikova and Zsofi Susanyi completed an 8-2 triumph over MSU's Jasmine Lee and Naomi Tran at No. 2. Court 3 was suspended at that point with Bulldogs Timea Guibe and Louise Ronaldson trailing Cal's Lynn Chi and Karla Popovic 6-3.
In singles, where Cal's lineup featured all six of its players ranked nationally (five in the top 50), the Bears would claim the first three matches complete for the win. Cal actually grabbed a 2-0 lead in the match when MSU's Frantova was forced to retire in her match with 44th-ranked Starr on court 3. Cal would go up 3-0 when the 43rd-ranked Susanyi downed State's Ronaldson 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4. The match clincher would come on court 2, where the 18th-ranked Bear Fabikova bested MSU's No. 107 Patrasc 6-3, 6-2.
All remaining matches were suspended at that point, with State leading in two contests and looking to force a third set in the other. MSU's 23rd-ranked Lee led Cal's fourth-ranked Manasse 7-6(4), 4-0 at the No. 1 position. Cal's 50th-ranked Chi was up 6-3, 4-4 over State's Brown at No. 5. At No. 6, MSU's Guibe led 103rd-ranked Bear Popovic 5-4 in the first set and had a set point when play was halted.
“We put up a good fight today,” MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. “They play very aggressive doubles, which was hard for us to defend against on their fast courts. I felt like we battled well in singles. Overall, it has been a great season for us and once again, I am proud of our efforts and accomplishments.”
Saturday's loss marked the end of a season, which saw several notable achievements by MSU women's tennis. In addition to making the program's first NCAA showing since 2005 and reaching the second round for the first time since 2001, the team also notched the most wins by the program (16) since the 1986 State squad notched 19. The Bulldogs also posted the most SEC wins in a season in 10 years and defeated six ranked foes, including a program-high win over No. 6 Alabama and top 30 wins in the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
State's women's tennis season is not completely done, however. With her stellar season on the court this spring, the First Team, All-SEC newcomer Lee was a selection to the 2015 NCAA Singles Championship and will begin play in that tournament May 20 in Waco, Texas.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateWT.
2015 NCAA Championship, Second Round
No. 3 Cal 4, No. 33 Mississippi State 0
Saturday, May 9, 2015 – Hellman Tennis Complex– Berkeley, Calif.
Doubles
1. No. 7 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (UC) def. No. 51 Martina Frantova/Georgiana Patrasc (MSU) 8-1
2. No. 5 Klara Fabikova/Zsofi Susanyi (UC) def. Jasmine Lee/Naomi Tran (MSU) 8-2
3. Lynn Chi/Karla Popovic (UC) vs. Timea Guibe/Louise Ronaldson (MSU) 6-3(susp.)
Singles
1. No. 23 Jasmine Lee (MSU) vs. No. 4 Maegan Manasse (UC) 7-6(3), 4-0(susp.)
2. No. 18 Klara Fabikova (UC) def. No. 107 Georgiana Patrasc (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. No. 44 Denise Starr (UC) def. Martina Frantova (MSU) 6-0, ret.
4. No. 43 Zsofi Susanyi (UC) def. Louise Ronaldson (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. No. 50 Lynn Chi (UC) vs. Jennifer Brown (MSU) 6-3, 4-4(susp.)
6. Timea Guibe (MSU) vs. No. 103 Karla Popovic (UC) 5-4(susp.)
Order of finish
Doubles: 1,2
Singles: 3,4,2
Players Mentioned
