STARKVILLE – The second day of the third-annual John Cade Invitational saw Mississippi State stack up seven more victories in women’s tennis.
Dharani Niroshan, Maria Rizzolo, Ava Rath, Athina Pitta and Alessia Tagliente all earned singles victories for the Bulldogs while Pitta and Alexandra Mikhailuk picked up two more singles wins via walkovers due to injuries to their opponents.
Niroshan and Tagliente also tacked on an 8-5 doubles triumph over Louisville’s Ibifuro Clement and Elena Noguero in the West Semifinals. Niroshan and Tagliente will have a shot to claim that bracket title on Sunday at 9 a.m. when they take on Germany Davis and Jamilah Snells of the Cardinals.
Chris Hooshyar‘s squad has accumulated 11 wins during its lone home event of the fall and will close out the tournament with a round of doubles starting Sunday at 9 a.m. and a round of singles beginning at 11 a.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
Niroshan’s singles victory on Saturday afternoon came against Louisville’s Lillian Mould 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Maroon East section of the bracket. Rizzolo also won in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 over Ana Rodrigues of Louisiana Tech in the White East quarterfinals while Rath battled back against Elena Noguero of the Cardinals 3-6, 6-4, 1-0[8] in the White West quarterfinals.
Tagliente also rallied to top Lilly Schulz of North Texas 6-7(3), 7-5, 1-0[9] in an extra singles match played inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion.
John Cade Invitational
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre/ Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Oct. 28, 2023
Doubles
West Semifinals
Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Ibifuro Clement/Elena Noguero (Louisville) 8-5
North Semifinals
Carolina Laydner/Stanislava Shulzhenko (North Texas) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Athina Pitta (MSU) 8-7(4)
South Semifinals
Lou Chalard/Olivia Malm (North Texas) def. Chloé Cirotte/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) Walkover [inj.]
South Final
Lou Chalard/Oliva Malm (North Texas) def. Jayna Clemens/Ava Rath (MSU) 8-2
Singles
Maroon East Quarterfinals
Dharani Niroshan (MSU) def. Lillian Mould (Louisville) 6-3, 6-1
Andrea Nova (Ole Miss) def. Jayna Clemens (MSU) 3-6, 6-4,…
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