MSU Pushes Past Mustangs To Reach ITA Kickoff Final

GAINESVILLE, Fla., – Mississippi State men’s tennis is moving on to the finals of ITA Kickoff Weekend following a thrilling 4-3 victory over SMU on Friday.

The match came down to the final set as Ewen Lumsden outlasted Liam Krall 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Court 4 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Florida’s campus to keep the Bulldogs unbeaten at 5-0 on the year.

“Today was a great college dual match and MSU has a great squad,” said head coach Matt Roberts. “We showed a lot of belief in ourselves and each other with the way we competed today. I was impressed with the way Ewen handled the third set when all eyes were on him. We are ready for another great opportunity tomorrow afternoon.”

MSU is slated to face No. 16 Florida on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT for a spot in next month’s ITA National Indoors Championships in Chicago. The Gators topped USF 4-1 in Friday’s second match.

Momentum in State’s match with the Mustangs on Friday shifted back-and-forth throughout. Petar Jovanovic and Gregor Ramskogler claimed the first match of the day for the Bulldogs as they defeated Krall and Antonio Muniz-Hidalgo 6-1.

But SMU (5-2) battled back to the take the doubles point as Pranav Kumar and Adam Neff upset No. 42 Carles Hernandez and Nemanja Malesevic 6-2 and Julien Steinhausen and Jack Winkler edged Lumsden and Michal Novansky 7-5.

Benito Sanchez Martinez quickly evened the score when singles started, sweeping past Steinhausen 6-4, 6-0. The Mustangs pulled back in front when Louis Cloud defeated Ramskogler 7-5, 6-3.

Jovanovic, ranked 107^th in singles, knotted things as he downed Kumar 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The Bulldogs took a brief 3-2 lead as Hernandez fought for a 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Muniz-Hidalgo but SMU kept its hopes alive as Neff managed to get past Malesevic 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

SMU will play a consolation match against USF on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Mississippi State 4, SMU 3

Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex | Gainesville, Fla.

Jan. 27, 2023 

Doubles

1. Pranav Kumar/Adam Neff (SMU) def. #42 Carles Hernandez/Nemanja Malesevic (MS) 6-2

2. Julian Steinhausen/Jack Winkler (SMU) def. Ewen Lumsden/Michal Novansky (MS) 7-5

3. Petar Jovanovic/Gregor Ramskogler (MS) def. Liam Krall/Antonio MunizHidalgo (SMU) 6-1

Order of finish: (3,1,2)