STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women’s tennis suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling 7-0 to No. 14 Iowa State.
The Cyclones were the first ranked opponent the Bulldogs have faced this spring. MSU moves to 6-1 on the season and ISU is now 5-1.
Despite the scores, singles play was close between the two teams.
“I definitely give credit to Iowa State for coming in and playing a great match,” head coach Daryl Greenan said. “That said, we did have our chances. We had chances to get first sets and put a little more pressure on them, but we weren’t able to capitalize on all our opportunities.”
In singles, MSU’s Alexandra Mikhailuk fell to No. 80 Anna Supapitch Kuearum 7-6(7), 6-2. Bulldog Emily Surcey took the first set against Chie Kezuka 7-6 (4), while Kezuka won the second to force a super tiebreaker. Kezuka ultimately took the match with a 1-0(5) win.
Bulldog Chloé Cirotte played back-and-forth with Miska Kadleckova in her first set, bit came up short with Kadleckova winning 7-5 in the first. Kadleckova took the match in the second set with a 6-1 victory.
State also lost the doubles point. Mikhailuk and Maria Rizzolo lost 6-2 to Ange Oby Kajuru and Kuearum, while Cirotte and Dharani Niroshan fell 6-3 to Sofia Cabezas and Kadleckova.
“They definitely came in as a hot confident team, ranked 14th in the country,” Greenan said. “I think this is something to build on, were going to get a bunch more opportunities like this within our league and we just have to learn from this one and build on it.”
Next Up
Mississippi State is back at home on Sunday, Feb. 5 for a doubleheader against Memphis at 12 p.m. and Jackson State at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldog women’s tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for “HailStateWT” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
No. 14 Iowa State 7, Mississippi State 0
Rula Tennis Pavilion | Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 3, 2023
Doubles
1. Emmanouela Antonaki/Gia Cohen (MSU) vs. Anna Supapitch Kuearum/Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) 4-5, unfinished
2. Ange Oby Kajuru/Xinyi Nong (ISU) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Maria Rizzolo (MSU) 6-2
3. Sofia Cabezas/Miska Kadleckova (ISU) def. Chloé Cirotte/Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 6-3
Order of finish: (3,2)
Singles
1. #57 Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Emmanouela Antonaki (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU) def. Gia Cohen (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. #80…
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