STARKVILLE, Miss. – Even though the season is over in team play for the Mississippi State men’s tennis squad, play for three Bulldogs continues on as the 2013 NCAA Individual Championships start Wednesday, May 22. Freshmen Jordan Angus and Romain Bogaerts, along with junior Malte Stropp will all compete for the Maroon and White in the final chapter of the 2013 season.
Bogaerts, the fifth seed in the singles competition, and Stropp, ranked 57th in the latest ITA singles poll, will compete for the Bulldogs in the singles draw. Bogaerts, who has put together a 28-10 record for the 2012-13 season, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and the ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year after an impressive season. He will face UCLA’s Marcos Giron in the first round, set to begin at 4:30 p.m. CT.
One of two juniors on the 2013 MSU squad, Stropp is making his first appearance in the NCAA Individuals. The Dusseldorf, Germany, native earned the bid after putting together a 21-12 record for the year and reeling in All-SEC Second Team honors. Stropp will face Texas A&M-Corpu Christi’s Peter Nagy in the first round at 10:30 a.m. CT.
In doubles, the 13th-ranked duo of Angus and Stropp will take on North Carolina State’s tandem of Dave Thomson and Sean Weber to open play. The MSU duo has earned 20 wins for the 2012-13 campaign, with ten of those coming in dual match play. Doubles first round will begin Thursday, May 23 and start times will be set by the NCAA on Wednesday.
Fans can keep up with the three Bulldog participants on http://www.fightingillini.com/ncaatennis2013/index.html, which provides live stats and video streaming of play throughout the tournament.
Bogaerts Named ITA National Rookie Of The Year
After a stellar freshman campaign, Mississippi State’s Romain Bogaerts has been named the ITA National Rookie of the Year, the ITA announced Tuesday.
Bogaerts, a native of Huppaye, Belgium, finished the 2012-13 campaign with a 28-10 record and going 15-6 (6-3 SEC) in dual match play. Nine of Bogaerts’ victories throughout his freshman year came against ranked opponents, including three against top 15 foes.
The Bulldog freshman, who captured 13 of his dual match wins at the top spot in the lineup, also earned the honor of Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, along with All-SEC First Team and All-SEC Freshman Team. Prior to being named ITA National Rookie of the Year, Bogaerts was honored as the ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year.
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