Mississippi State University Team Page
SEATTLE, Wash. - In dominating fashion, the No. 10 Mississippi State men's tennis squad (8-1) defeated the No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (6-2) 4-0 in the consolation round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. The all-time series between the two teams is now tied at 2-2, with this being the first time the two have met at a neutral site.
In another consolation match Sunday at the National Indoors, State now gets a rematch with No. 12 Ole Miss. The Bulldogs ousted the Rebels 4-2 just nine days ago to retain the River Hills Club, winning their fourth straight over their in-state rivals. Sunday's match is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT at the Seattle Tennis Club.
The action kicked off with a battle for the doubles point, which would be decided on courts one and two. At the top spot, the No. 13 MSU duo of Jordan Angus and Malte Stropp took down the No. 40 A&M tandem of Junior Ore and Jackson Withrow 8-6. MSU clinched the doubles point when the freshmen team of Romain Bogaerts and Pedro Dumont defeated TAMU's Jeremy Efferding and Jordan Szabo 8-4 on court three.
Play on court two was suspended after the point was clinched, with MSU's Zach White and Ethan Wilkinson tied with the Aggies' No. 7 Harrison Adams and Shane Vinsant at 6-6.
State jumped out quick in singles play, grabbing the opening set on four of six courts. The Bulldogs took their first match in convincing style on court four, as Angus earned his first ranked victory of the spring, defeating No. 67 Vinsant 6-1, 6-1. With the win, Angus remained perfect at 8-0 on the season.
Meanwhile, on court one, State's 19th-ranked Bogaerts grinded out a tough first set and cruised in the second, defeating Ore 7-6(3), 6-3 to put MSU up 3-0. That was a key momentum swing the match, as all other matches would go to third sets.
But the Bulldogs would get the clinching point they needed on court two, where No. 43 Stropp battled back after dropping his first set 6-3 by taking the second 7-6(4) to force a deciding third against A&M's 124th-ranked Adams. From there, the MSU junior would cruise to a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 victory, clinching the 4-0 win against the No. 15 Aggies.
After Stropp's team match-clinching win, play on all courts was suspended. MSU senior James Chaudry was down 6-2, 4-6, 5-3 on court three against TAMU's Efferding. State freshman Stefan Vinti was down 2-6, 7-6(4), 3-2 against A&M's No. 100 Withrow. And State's White was tied at 6-3, 2-6, 5-5 against the Aggies' Behzad Minavi when the match went final.
"That was a great match from our guys," head coach Per Nilsson said. "Bouncing back like that from our performance yesterday speaks volume about our team. Mentally, they were sharp and everyone played to win."
For more information on Mississippi State men's tennis, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mstatemt) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mstatemt).
No. 10 Mississippi State 4, No. 15 Texas A&M 0 - ITA National Team Indoor Championship
February 16, 2013 - Seattle Tennis Club - Seattle, Wash.
Doubles
1) No. 28 Jordan Angus/Malte Stropp (MSU) def. No. 40 Junior Ore/Jackson Withrow (TAMU) 8-6
2) Zach White/Ethan Wilkinson (MSU) vs. No. 7 Harrison Adams/Shane Vinsant (TAMU) 6-6 (susp.)
3) Romain Bogaerts/Pedro Dumont (MSU) def. Jeremy Efferding/Jordan Szabo (TAMU) 8-4
Singles
1) No. 19 Bogaerts (MSU) def. Ore (TAMU) 7-6(3), 6-3
2) No. 43 Stropp (MSU) def. No. 124 Adams (TAMU) 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
3) James Chaudry (MSU) vs. Efferding (TAMU) 2-6, 6-4, 3-5 (susp.)
4) Angus (MSU) def. No. 67 Vinsant 6-1, 6-1
5) Stefan Vinti (MSU) vs. No. 100 Withrow (TAMU) 6-2, 6-7(4), 2-3 (susp.)
6) White (MSU) vs. Behzad Minavi (TAMU) 6-3, 2-6, 5-5 (susp.)
Order of finish... Doubles (1,3)... Singles (4,1,2)
