Mississippi State
Texas Tech
No. 21 MSU Women?s Tennis Falls To No. 16 Texas Tech In NCAA 2nd Round
May 15, 2016 | Women's Tennis
LUBBOCK, Texas – Ending one of the best seasons in program history, the 21st-ranked Mississippi State women's tennis team (18-9) was edged by 16th-ranked host Texas Tech (25-5) 4-2 in NCAA Second Round action Saturday at TTU's McLeod Tennis Center.
Saturday's match started with TTU being dominant in doubles play. Tech's Sarah Dvorak and Katelyn Jackson made quick work of State's Georgiana Patrasc and Anastasia Rentouli 6-1 on court 3. Following at the No. 1 position, the Red Raiders' tandem of Gabriela Talaba and Alex Valenstein upset State's 30th-ranked pair of Madison Harrison and Kristina Vozniak 6-3 to clinch the doubles point for a 1-0 TTU lead. The remaining doubles match was suspended with Tech holding a 5-3 lead on court 2.
The Bulldogs responded in singles, splitting the six first sets with Tech. Tech would extend their lead to 2-0 as Jackson upended Bulldog Jennifer Brown 6-0, 6-2 on court 6. At the No. 3 position, State's 115th-ranked Harrison was the first point for MSU as she cruised past TTU's Valenstein 6-3, 6-3 to make it 2-1. Harrison ended her singles season on a seven-match win streak.
State tied the match at 2-all when the 101st-ranked Rentouli posted a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over the Red Raiders' Felicity Maltby on court 4. Texas Tech responded just moments later, however, as Sabrina Federici came from behind to outlast MSU's Vozniak 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 5 position.
That left courts 1 and 2 in play to decide the match, with State needing both for the win, Tech only needing one.
The clincher would come on court 2, where Tech's 109th-ranked Talaba would hold off State's 36th-ranked Patrasc 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2.
The remaining match was suspended with MSU's 13th-ranked Jasmine Lee on the verge of a comeback win. Lee had fought back to make it 5-all in the third set (5-7, 7-5, 5-5) after going down 5-1 against TTU's 93rd-ranked Dvorak.
“We came up a little short against a solid Texas Tech team today,” MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. “They were definitely better than us in doubles which ended up being a crucial point. I thought we did a good job of putting that behind us. Madison and Ana were very impressive dominating their opponents which put us in a good position. In the end, we just were not able to take advantage of a few big opportunities."
State's women had several notable achievements in 2016. Among them, the Bulldogs registered the second-most wins in program history (18), the most Southeastern Conference wins (7) and a school-record seven players ranked nationally in singles and doubles at one point during the season. The two points MSU scored in the loss to Texas Tech on Saturday were the first ever registered by the team in its five NCAA second-round appearances.
“We definitely had our chances to make the sweet 16. It was the closest we have ever come. We are all disappointed our season ended today but I am happy with the progress we have made. It has been a special season in many ways and these girls deserve a lot of credit for their efforts. Win or lose, it has been a great honor for me personally going to battle every day with them. They have raised the bar for our program."
State's 2015-16 season is not completely done. Lee and Patrasc are both qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Singles Championship, which begins May 25 in Tulsa, Okla. Both players will be making their second career appearances in the 64-player draw. The MSU tandem of Harrison and Vozniak is also the first alternate to the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship.
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis and updates, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateWT.
No. 16 Texas Tech 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
2016 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship – Second Round
May 14, 2016 – McLeod Tennis Center - Lubbock, Texas
Doubles
Order of match finish…3,1
1. Gabriela Talaba/Alex Valenstein (TTU) def. No. 30 Madison Harrison/Kristina Vozniak (MSU) 6-3
2. Sabrina Federici/Felicity Maltby (TTU) vs. Jennifer Brown/Jasmine Lee (MSU) 5-3 (susp.)
3. Sarah Dvorak/Katelyn Jackson (TTU) def. Georgiana Patrasc/Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) 6-1
Singles
Order of match finish…6,3,4,5,2
1. No. 13 Jasmine Lee (MSU) vs. No. 93 Sarah Dvorak (TTU) 5-7, 7-5, 5-5 (susp.)
2. No. 109 Gabriela Talaba (TTU) def. No. 36 Georgiana Patrasc (MSU) 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2
3. No. 115 Madison Harrison (MSU) def. Alex Valenstein (TTU) 6-3, 6-3
4. No. 101 Anastasia Rentouli (MSU) def. Felicity Maltby (TTU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Sabrina Federici (TTU) def. Kristina Vozniak (MSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Katelyn Jackson (TTU) def. Jennifer Brown (MSU) 6-0, 6-2
