02/28/00 - Mississippi State's 13th-ranked men's tennis team avenged one of its 1999 non-conference losses Sunday, ousting 37th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on campus. The Ragin' Cajuns had upset MSU 4-3 last season, breaking State's 29-match non-conference home winning streak at the time.

With Sunday's win, State improved to 4-1 overall on the 2000 season. ULL dropped to 2-1. State is now 14-10 against ULL since 1969 and has now won 64 of its last 74 home matches.

The Bulldogs swept doubles play for the fourth match of the season, posting 8-4, 8-6 and 8-6 victories in those contests. MSU is now 13-2 on the year in doubles with the only two losses coming in tiebreakers.

In singles, State took little time in clinching the match, pouncing on the Ragin' Cajuns early at the No. 2, 5 and 6 positions. True freshman Bulldog Charles Sevigny won first at No. 6, ousting Lucas Machado 6-0, 6-3. Senior Jeremy Bayon, ranked 101st nationally, followed with a 6-1, 6-1triumph over Jakub Ilowski at No. 2. Bayon has now won 15 of his last 16 singles dual matches dating back to '99 (10-straight).

Clinching the match for MSU was freshman René-Charles Combette, who downed ULL's Bruno Puzzi 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot. MSU would win two of the last three contests on court with victories at the No. 1 and 4 positions.

Another Bulldog freshman, 74th-ranked Jerome Le Belicard, gave State a 5-0 lead, holding off Ragin' Cajun Osvaldo Biffe 7-6(5), 6-4 at the No. 4 position.

ULL's only win of the day came at the No. 3 spot, where Ragin' Cajun Michael Jordan outlasted Bulldog David Ruiz for a 7-6(4), 7-5 win.

Rounding out the scoring for MSU was Marco Baron. Down 5-0 in the first set, the 10th-ranked junior all-American overcame a second-set service break at 4-5 to defeat 14th-ranked Eduardo Gordilho 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3. It was Baron's eighth consecutive dual match singles win.

"We knew coming in that this was a talented team after last season," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We were very focused today early, and even after we had clinched the match the guys were fighting very hard to earn every win we could. Now we will focus on the SEC."

State will begin the 11-match Southeastern Conference slate Wednesday, travelling to Gainesville, Fla., to meet fourth-ranked Florida at 2 p.m. ET.

#13 MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, #37 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 1

DOUBLES--#16 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. Michal Jordan/Bernard Kaczorowski (ULL) 8-4; Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) def. Osvaldo Biffe/Jakub Ilowski (ULL) 8-6; Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Eduardo Gordilho/Bruno Puzzi (ULL) 8-6.

SINGLES--#10 Baron (MSU) def. #14 Gordilho (ULL) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3; t#101 Bayon (MSU) def. Ilowski (ULL) 6-1, 6-1; Jordan (ULL) def. Ruiz (MSU) 7-6(4), 7-5; t#74 Le Belicard (MSU) def. Biffe (ULL) 7-6(5), 6-4; Combette (MSU) def. Puzzi (ULL) 6-2, 6-2; Sevigny (MSU) def. Lucas Machado (ULL) 6-0, 6-3.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

MSU shot the third-lowest score in the field on Sunday to move ahead of Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas, who led the Lady Bulldogs by 13 strokes heading into the final round.

Host school Florida used a tournament low 289 in the final round to claim the team title by 15 strokes over South Carolina. Jennifer Perri of Furman held off a surging Kristi McPherson of South Carolina to win individual medalist honors.

Following Clausen, who finished tied for 12th, junior Lina Thoren fired a final-round 74 to finish in a tie for 16th. Sophomore Anna Gertsson tied for 40th and seniors Pia Josefsson and Sue Phillips tied for 67th and 74th, respectively.

Following a three-week layoff, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Columbia, S.C. to participate in the Lady Gamecock Classic.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Florida 306-309-289=904
2. South Carolina 313-301-305=919
3. LSU 312-304-304=920
4. Auburn 300-309-312=921
5. Furman 312-303-310=925
6. Alabama 305-312-310=927
7. Central Florida 307-310-311=928
8. South Florida 316-310-307=933
9. Mississippi 316-313-309=938
10. Mississippi State 318-317-305=950
11. Vanderbilt 320-319-307=946
Arkansas 317-305-324=946
13. Florida State 321-316-315=952
14. Miami 324-315-322=96
15. Kentucky 331-325-317=973

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Mississippi State only)
t12. Christina Clausen 81-74-74=229
t16. Lina Thoren 77-79-74=230
t40. Anna Gertsson 83-79-77=239
t67. Pia Josefsson 77-86-85=248
t74. Sue Phillips 87-85-80=252

MSU Bulldog sprinter Pierre Browne entered the finals of the SEC Indoor Championships Sunday in the 60 and 200 meters as a freshman, and he proved he could hold his own with the upperclassmen of the nation's dominant track conference, finishing fifth in the 200 meters and seventh in the 60 meters. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native's time of 20.92 in the 200-meter dash was the all-time second best at Mississippi State and an NCAA provisional qualifying mark that bettered his previous best set in Saturday’s 200 meter prelims. The only freshman to make the finals in either the 60 or 200 meters, Browne finished the 60-meter dash in a school third-best time of 6.74.

After setting an all-time school best at the Kroger Indoor Invitational, the women's 4x400-meter relay squad, consisting of freshman Janice Zawaski, senior LaToya Stephens and juniors Ann-Marie Anderson and Andréa Ingleton, shattered the previous record of 3:46.15 with their performance at the Randall Tyson Track Center. The seventh-place finish earned the Lady Bulldogs two points and moved the team into a tie for a 10th-place finish with Vanderbilt.

Junior thrower Trish Curtis finished ninth in the shot put with a school third-best 45-10 3/4 mark. In the triple jump, senior Crystal Gibbs finished tenth with an MSU third-best leap of 38-7 3/4, while senior Pat Barr finished 14th with a measure of 37-9 1/4.

In addition to Browne, junior Vance Clarke finished fifth in the triple jump with a 51-3 1/2 leap that ranks fifth-best in school history and makes Clarke a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Junior triple jumper Ian Robertson finished seventh with a mark of 50-6 1/4, helping Mississippi State into a tie with the University of Mississippi for 10th place overall.

Coach Al Schmidt's Bulldog and Lady Bulldog squads’ next competition is slated for the USA Track and Field Championships March 3-4 in Atlanta, Ga.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/27/00 - Mississippi State's 27th-ranked women's tennis team won for the sixth time in seven matches this season Saturday, downing UAB 7-2 on the road. The victory marks only the second time ever that State has begun a season 6-1 and improves State's series record with UAB to 13-3.

State posted victories in five of six singles matches to clinch the triumph early and also registered two wins in doubles.

Lady Bulldogs Amelie Detriviere, Claudia Oliveira, Andrea Lord, Eimear Sloan and Linda Mattsson were all straight-set winners for MSU on the day in singles.

Detriviere, ranked 91st nationally, was a 6-2, 7-6 winner over Monika Schmid at the No. 2 position. Sloan held off Esther Obergfoll 7-6, 6-4 at No. 5. Oliveira, Lord and Mattsson lost only seven games between them in their three contests at positions 3, 4 and 6. Lord won for the 11th-consecutive outing.

MSU's only singles casualty was at the No.1 position where UAB's Mirelo Vladulescu downed Ivana Belancic 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles, State took 8-2 and 8-1 wins at the No. 2 and 3 positions, respectively.

"We played a solid match today as a team," MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. "This was a match that we should win on the road and we took care of business."

State's women will stay on the road for their next three matches, two of which will be Southeastern Conference affairs. The Lady Bulldogs will visit 16th-ranked Vanderbilt next Saturday, March 4, before travelling to No. 39 South Florida and No. 4 Florida the following week. Against Vandy, State will look for its first 7-1 start in school history.

#27 MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, UAB 2

SINGLES - Mirelo Vladulescu (UAB) def. Ivana Belancic (MSU) 6-1, 6-1; #91 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Monika Schmid (UAB) 6-2, 7-6; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. KB Mogonediwa (UAB) 6-0, 6-1; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Michelle North (UAB) 6-2, 6-2; Eimear Sloan (MSU) def. Esther Obergfoll (UAB) 7-6, 6-4; Linda Mattsson (MSU) def. Sjouke Liem (UAB) 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES - Schmid/Vladulescu (UAB) def. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) 8-0; Mattsson/Sloan (MSU) def. Mogonediwa/North (UAB) 8-2; Lord/Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Obergfoll/Liem (UAB) 8-1.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Mississippi State's 13th-ranked men's tennis team will return to dual match action Sunday, hosting 37th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

State will bring a 3-1 record into the match after a 10-day break since a 5-2 win over UAB on Feb. 17. ULL was 2-0 entering a match with South Alabama on Saturday that went late due to rain showers in the Lafayette area.

The Bulldogs own a 13-10 advantage over the Ragin Cajuns since 1969, 11-2 in Starkville. However, one of those two home losses came last season when ULL upset State 4-3.

"I obviously don't have to say that this will be a match we will be concerned with," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They beat us here last year and they are certainly as good, if not better, than they were then. We will have to be prepared and focused."

Following Sunday's action, State will open the 11-match Southeastern Conference slate Wednesday, travelling to play fourth-ranked Florida in Gainesville.

Mississippi State's women's golf team fired a second-round 317 to remain in 11th place at the Lady Gator Invitational. Individually, freshman Christina Clausen fired a two-over 74 to move into a tie for 19th place.

MSU's two-day total of 635 is its highest this season. The Lady Bulldogs trail leader Auburn by 26 strokes heading into the final round.

Auburn continues to lead the tournament by five strokes as six teams are within just eight strokes. Furman's Jennifer Perri expanded her lead to five strokes over the nearest competitors.

Behind Clausen were junior Lina Thoren and sophomore Anna Gertsson, who both fired 79s. Seniors Sue Phillips and Pia Josefsson both struggled on the day, carding an 85 and an 86, respectively.

The SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational will conclude Sunday, with 18 holes being played beginning at 8 a.m.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Auburn 300-309=609
2. South Carolina 313-301=614
3. Florida 306-309=615
Furman 312-303=615
5. LSU 312-304=616
6. Central Florida 307-310=617
Alabama 305-312=617
8. Arkansas 317-305=622
South Florida 316-310=626
10. Mississippi 316-313=629
11. Mississippi State 318-317=635
12. Florida State 321-316=637
13. Vanderbilt 320-319=639
Miami 324-315=639
15. Kentucky 331-325=656

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Mississippi State only)

t19. Christina Clausen 81-74=155
t26. Lina Thoren 77-79=156
t55. Anna Gertsson 83-79=162
t59. Pia Josefsson 77-86=163
78. Sue Phillips 87-85=172

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/26/00 - The Mississippi State men's and women's track teams travel this weekend to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

The MSU men's squad will look to senior jumper Rod Newton, who returns to his home state, to lead them in competition at the newly opened Randall Tyson Indoor Track Complex. Two weeks ago at the Kroger Indoor Invitational, the Crossett, Ark., native broke the MSU high jump record with a leap of 7-3. That mark has also placed Newton among the nation's leaders in the event as he is currently ranked ninth heading into this weekend. Newton is attempting to win his fifth consecutive meet in as many tries this season.

Ranked among the SEC's leaders, freshman sprinter Pierre Browne heads into Fayetteville with a four-meet streak of top-five finishes in the 60 meters dating back to his collegiate debut in which he won the event at the Saluki Booster Club Invitational.

The Lady Bulldogs also enter this weekend's meet on the heels of setting a new school record two weeks ago. The 4x400-meter relay team accomplished the feat at the Virginia Tech-hosted event by clocking a time of 3:46.15. State will also look for scoring from veteran performers Elisha Williams and Camille Harper, who have been the catalyst for most of the Lady Bulldogs scoring this season.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/26/00 - With a first-round score of 318, Mississippi State's women's golf team stands in 11th place at the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational. Individually, senior Pia Josefsson and junior Lina Thoren fired 77s and are tied for 16th place, eight strokes behind the leader.

The Lady Bulldogs' 318 is the highest team total since they fired a 323 at the Southeastern Conference Championships last spring, and broke a streak of 11 consecutive rounds below 310.

Behind Josefsson and Thoren were freshman Christina Clausen, who shot an 81, sophomore Anna Gertsson, 83, and senior Sue Phillips, 87.

In the team competition, Auburn claimed the lead with an opening round 300, five strokes better than rival Alabama. Individually, Jennifer Perri of Furman fired a first-round 69, three shots better than the nearest competitors.

MSU will resume play on Saturday at 8 a.m. and the tournament will conclude Sunday with 18 holes being played each day.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Auburn 300 +12
2. Alabama 305 +17
3. Florida 306 +18
4. Central Florida 307 +19
5. Furman 312 +24
LSU 312 +24
7. South Carolina 313 +25
8. Mississippi 316 +28
South Florida 316 +28
10. Arkansas 317 +29
11. Mississippi State 318 +30
12. Vanderbilt 320 +32
13. Florida State 321 +33
14. Miami 324 +36
15. Kentucky 331 +43

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Mississippi State only)

t16. Pia Josefsson 77 +5
t16. Lina Thoren 77 +5
t45. Christina Clausen 81 +9
t61. Ana Gertsson 83 +11M
t77. Sue Phillips 87 +15

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/25/00 - Head Coach Christi Sanders and the sixth-ranked Lady Bulldog golf squad will begin the spring season Friday at the Lady Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The 54-hole tournament will be played from Friday to Sunday with 18 holes being played each day.

"We're ready for the season to start," Sanders said. "After three months off, it's time to get back into the competitive mode. This is a very demanding tournament with nine SEC teams in the 14-team field."

Mississippi State finished the fall with three team victories in four outings, and three golfers claimed individual tournament championships. Junior Lina Thoren led the Lady Bulldogs with a victory at the Lady Seminole Invitational and a 74.33 stroke average. Sophomore Anna Gertsson recorded a win at the USF-Beacon Woods Invitational and was second on the team with a 74.58 stroke average. Playing in the No. 1 position for MSU will be senior Pia Josefsson, who was victorious at the Memphis Women's Intercollegiate and ranked third among starters with a 75.08 stroke average.

Rounding out MSU's lineup will be senior Sue Phillips and freshman Christina Clausen. Phillips played in only one tournament during the fall, claiming eighth place at the Lady Seminole while competing as an individual. Clausen finished the fall with three top-10 performances and a 76.17 stroke average.

The Lady Bulldogs compiled a 27-1 record over teams in the South District during the fall including an 11-0 record against teams that will compete in the Lady Gator Invitational.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/24/00 - Mississippi State's men's and women's tennis teams are 13th and 27th, respectively, in the latest WingspanBank.com national college rankings, released Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Wednesday's ranking was team-only and was voted on by the ITA National Ranking Committee.

Despite a win over UAB last week, the Bulldogs (3-1) fell to 13th nationally, surpassed by Texas, who upset No. 6 SMU and jumped to 10th in the country.

The Lady Bulldogs (5-1) moved up a spot to 27th following impressive 7-2 and 8-1 wins over Middle Tennessee and Alabama.

Both teams will be back in action this weekend. State's men will host 37th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday at 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The Lady Bulldogs will travel to face UAB in Birmingham on Saturday at 1 p.m.

MSU IN THE INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION SPRING #4 RANKINGS-2/23/00

MSU MEN'S TEAM-13th
MSU WOMEN'S TEAM-27th

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/23/00 - Mississippi State shot a 315 in the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships here Tuesday to finish 13th in the 15-team field. The two-day, 54-hole event was held at Sawgrass Country Club, home of The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

Senior Alex Rocha saw his impressive run of four consecutive top-three finishes come to an end as he landed in a four-way tie for 17th. Rocha shot a final-round 80, his highest 18-hole score since his freshman season, and carded a 54-hole total of 6-over 222. Teammate Scott Shelton shot his second consecutive 73 to join Rocha in the 17th-place tie.

Florida won the team title with a 7-over 871 for the three rounds. Host North Florida came in second at 876, followed by Northwestern at 881.

The individual medal went to David Bennett of North Florida after sinking a 15-foot birdie put in the first playoff hole. Bennett had finished the 54 holes tied with Camilo Benedetti of Florida at 5 under. Only two other golfers finished under par: defending NCAA individual champion Luke Donald of Northwestern at 3 under and Kevin Mock of UNF at 2 under.

Ben Smith and Michael Trailov were the next-highest finishers for the Bulldogs, tying for 61st with 236s (+20). Codie Mudd carded a 25-over 241 for the Bulldogs to finish 71st.

MSU will return to action March 6-7 in Tallahassee, Fla., at the Seminole Classic.

RESULTS FROM THE MERCEDES-BENZ COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. -- Feb. 21-22, 2000
Par 72 -- 6,895 yards

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Florida 280-294-297=871 (+7)
2. North Florida 279-298-299=876 (+12)
3. Northwestern 287-304-290=881 (+17)
4. North Carolina State 287-298-308=887 (+23)
5. Tennessee 289-312-291=892 (+28)
6. South Carolina 295-308-291=894 (+30)
7. Augusta State 290-306-304=900 (+36)
8. Mississippi 300-304-298=902 (+38)
College of Charleston 297-303-302=902 (+38)
10. Louisiana State 297-304-302=903 (+39)
11. Wake Forest 290-321-297=908 (+44)
12. Vanderbilt 302-314-296=912 (+48)
13. Mississippi State 298-302-315=915 (+51)
14. Alabama 304-308-305=917 (+53)
15. Florida State 314-304-303=921 (+57)

MSU FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
t17. Alex Rocha 69-73-80=222 (+6)
t17. Scott Shelton 76-73-73=222 (+6)
t61. Ben Smith 77-80-79=236 (+20)
t61. Michael Trailov 76-77-83=236 (+20)
t62. Codie Mudd 79-79-83=241 (+25)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/21/00 - No. 28 Mississippi State improved to 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 1989 here Sunday with an 8-1 victory over 65th-ranked Alabama. The Lady Bulldogs are now 5-1 overall on the season, while Alabama falls to 4-3 and 0-2 in SEC play.

Sophomore Andrea Lord clinched the victory for MSU with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Selia Mathew at the No. 5 spot. Lord led 5-3 in the second set only toee Mathew battle back and send the match to a third set. There, Lord rallied from down 4-2 to post the 6-4 win.

It was Lord's 23rd singles victory of the year, eclipsing her freshman win total of 22 and moving her into a sixth-place tie for most singles wins in one season at MSU. It was also the ninth-consecutive singles victory for Lord, the longest such streak by a Lady Bulldog this season.

MSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, winning in two sets at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 singles. Amelie Detriviere, currently ranked 91st nationally, was a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Weyli Chang at No. 1. Carole Soubis was a 6-2, 6-3 winner at No. 3 over Millie Begovic. At No. 6 singles, Anca Vasiloaica knocked off Becca Baum 6-1, 6-1 in less than 50 minutes.

Ivana Belancic was victorious for the Lady Bulldogs at the No. 2 spot, defeating Dominique Glinzler 7-5, 6-3. Alabama posted its lone victory of the day at No. 4 when Jenny Ketchum defeated Claudia Oliveira 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles, State won all three matches. At No. 1, the 24th-ranked tandem of Eimear Sloan and Soubis made quick work of Begovic and Glinzler with an 8-1 victory. It was the first match in two weeks for Sloan, who has been battling a shoulder injury.

At No. 2 doubles, Lord and Linda Mattsson came back from a 7-5 deficit to down Baum and Chang 9-7. Detriviere and Oliveira completed the day with an 8-3 win over Ketchum and Mathew at the No. 3 spot.

MSU will return to action Saturday, traveling to Birmingham for a 1 p.m. match with the Blazers of UAB.

No. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, No. 65 ALABAMA 1

SINGLES -- #91 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Weyli Chang (UA) 6-0, 6-3; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Dominique Glinzler (UA) 7-5, 6-3; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Millie Begovic (UA) 6-2, 6-3; Jenny Ketchum (UA) def. Claudia Oliveira (MSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Selia Mathew (UA) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Becca Baum (UA) 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- #24 Eimear Sloan/Soubis (MSU) def. Begovic/Baum (UA) 8-1; Lord/Mattsson (MSU) def. Baum/Chang (UA) 9-7. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Ketchum/Mathew (UA) 8-3.

# -- indicates ranking according to ITA Rankings day of match

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/19/00 - No. 28 Mississippi State defeated 67th-ranked Middle Tennessee here Friday in women's tennis action. The Lady Bulldogs improve to 4-1 on the season with the victory, while the Lady Raiders fall to 4-5.

MSU won all six singles matches, three in two sets. At No. 1 singles, 91st-ranked Amelie Detriviere defeated Tina Hojnik 6-3, 6-0. At No. 2 singles, Ivana Belancic went to a third set with Katja Kuehner, but was victorious 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

At No. 3 singles, Carole Soubis also went to a third set and was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Tanja Buchheim, who is tied for 99th nationally. Claudia Oliveira defeated Michaela Gridling in three sets at No. 4 singles 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Lord posted her career-best eighth consecutive singles victory, the longest streak of the year for MSU. The Franklin, Tenn., native defeated Stacy Varnell 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Anca Vasiloaica breezed to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Sarah Grohnert at No. 6 singles.

Doubles competition was not as kind to the Lady Bulldogs. State was victorious at the No. 2 spot as Lord and Vasiloaica defeated Buchheim and Kuehner 8-4. However, Belancic and Soubis squandered a 7-4 advantage at No. 1 doubles and eventually lost 9-7 to Hojnik and Gridling. Detriviere and Oliveira were edged 8-6 at the No. 3 spot by Varnell and Grohnert.

"Middle Tennessee is a very good, young team," MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. "I was pleased with our play in singles. We battled really hard. We need to build off of this win and get ready for Alabama."

The Lady Bulldogs will return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. as they host Alabama for a Southeastern Conference match at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

No. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, No. 67 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 2
Starkville, Miss. -- Feb. 18, 2000

SINGLES -- #91 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Tina Hojnik (MT) 6-3, 6-0; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Katja Kuehner (MT) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. t-#99 Tanja Buchheim (MT) 6-2, 6-4, 6-3; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Michaela Gridling (MT) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Stacy Varnell (MT) 6-3, 6-2; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Sarah Grohnert (MT) 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES -- Gridling/Hojnik (MT) def. Belancic/Soubis (MSU) 9-7; Lord/Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Buchheim/Kuehner (MT) 8-4. Varnell/Grohnert (MT) def. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) 8-6.

# -- indicates ranking according to ITA Rankings day of match

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/18/00 - After a rain delay that lasted more than an hour longer than the total time actually played in the match, Mississippi State's 12th-ranked men's tennis team held off a strong challenge from visiting UAB, ranked 39th, Thursday afternoon and night, downing the Blazers 5-2.

The win, which improved State to 3-1 overall, was the seventh-straight for MSU over UAB, 1-1. The Bulldogs now own a 15-1 series lead over the Blazers and have now won 50 of their last 54 non-conference matches held in Starkville.

For the second-straight match, and third this year, MSU swept doubles play, as the Bulldogs posted 8-2, 8-6 and 8-3 wins.

After only a few games had been played in singles, the match was suspended at 3:40 p.m. for nearly five-and-a-half hours due to rain. The teams resumed play at 9 p.m. After play restarted, the Blazers posted a strong challenge early, winning three of six first sets and forcing a tiebreaker in one other. Despite that, State took an early 3-0 lead behind the strength of wins at the top two positions.

Finishing first for State was all-American Marco Baron. The 10th-ranked junior ousted UAB's 19th-ranked Martin Woisetschlåger 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. Posting an identical score was senior Jeremy Bayon, ranked 101st in the country, who ousted Blazer Tom Dalby 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2. Bayon has now won 14 of his last 15 singles dual matches dating back to the 1999 season, while Baron is 11 of 15 in that category.

Despite the early lead for MSU, the match was still in question at that point. UAB cut the lead to 3-1 when Alexander Jung upset 74th-ranked MSU true freshman Jerome Le Belicard 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 4 position. The teams had split sets at No. 6 and MSU had lost the first set at No. 3.

Meanwhile, another State true freshman, René-Charles Combette, had won a first-set tiebreaker at No. 5. And it would be Combette who would clinch the match for the Bulldogs, downing Andre Van Der Merwe 7-6(5), 6-2.

The teams would split decisions in the final two matches of the evening after UAB had won the first set in both. The third true freshmen in State's lineup, Charles Sevigny, came back to defeat Blazer Paul Shovlin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 6 position. UAB's Kolie Van Zyl escaped a comeback effort from MSU sophomore David Ruiz, overcoming a service break in the third set for a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory.

"I was very proud of our guys tonight, particularly our younger players who were on the court when the match was on the line," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We are getting better with each match and those more inexperienced players are doing the same as they play more matches."

State will now have a week-and-a-half to prepare for its next match, which will be Sunday, February 27, when MSU hosts 38th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

#12 MISSISSIPPI STATE 5, #39 UAB 2

DOUBLES--#16 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. Alexander Jung/Martin Woisetschlåger (UAB) 8-2; Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) def. Tom Dalby/Kolie Van Zyl (UAB) 8-6; Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Paul Shovlin/Andre Van Der Merwe (UAB) 8-3.

SINGLES--#10 Baron (MSU) def. #19 Woisetschlåger (UAB) 6-2, 6-2; t#101 Bayon (MSU) def. Dalby (UAB) 6-2, 6-2; Van Zyl (UAB) def. Ruiz (MSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4; Jung (UAB) def. t#74 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-3, 6-1; Combette (MSU) def. Van Der Merwe (UAB) 7-6(5), 6-2; Sevigny (MSU) def. Shovlin (UAB) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/18/00 - Mississippi State's 28th-ranked women's tennis will entertain No. 67 Middle Tennessee here Friday in a 2:30 p.m. match at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. MSU enters with a 3-1 record, while the Lady Raiders come to town at 4-4.

This will be the seventh meeting between the two schools. The Lady Bulldogs lead the all-time series 5-1. MSU and Middle Tennessee first met Sept. 22, 1979, when the Murfreesboro, Tenn., school was still known as Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Raiders were 5-4 winners in that match, which was played in Bowling Green, Ky., at the Western Kentucky Quadrangular.

The next time the two hooked up was Oct. 7 in Murfreesboro at the MTSU Quadrangular. Since then, MSU has won every meeting, including all three contests in Starkville and last season's 9-0 decision in Murfreesboro. The Lady Raiders last came to campus two years ago with MSU winning 8-1.

State will be paced by junior Amelie Detrivere, who is ranked 91st nationally in the latest WingspanBank.com Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. In doubles, MSU's tandem of senior Eimear Sloan and sophomore Carole Soubis will carry a No. 24 ranking into the match.

The Lady Raiders boast one ranked player, Tanja Buchheim, who is tied for 99th nationally in singles.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/17/00 - Mississippi State's men's tennis team, up a spot to 12th in the latest WingspanBank.com National Rankings, released Wednesday, will return to dual match action Thursday, hosting 39th-ranked UAB. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The match is a makeup after the teams' previous scheduled time was canceled due to weather reasons earlier in the year.

State will bring a 2-1 record into the match following a 7-0 shutout of Middle Tennessee on Sunday. UAB is 1-0 overall coming to Starkville after a 6-1 victory over Troy State in Birmingham Tuesday.

The Bulldogs own a 14-1 advantage over the Blazers all-time. Nine of those meetings have come in the last nine seasons in Starkville, including last year' 5-2 Bulldog win. UAB is one of only four non-conference teams to have beaten MSU in Starkville in 53 such matches, posting a 5-2 win at State in 1993.

"UAB will be another tough test for us," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They always have a solid team and this year is no different."

Following Thursday's action, State will have over a week off before its next match. MSU will host 38th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday, February 27, at 1 p.m. ULL upset MSU in Starkville 4-3 last year.

The new individual national rankings were also released Wednesday. State's Marco Baron was 10th in the country in singles, while he and partner Charles Sevigny were 16th in doubles. True freshman Jerome Le Belicard was tied for 74th in singles and senior Jeremy Bayon was tied for No. 101.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/17/00 - Mississippi State's men's tennis team, up a spot to 12th in the latest WingspanBank.com National Rankings, released Wednesday, will return to dual match action Thursday, hosting 39th-ranked UAB. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The match is a makeup after the teams' previous scheduled time was canceled due to weather reasons earlier in the year.

State will bring a 2-1 record into the match following a 7-0 shutout of Middle Tennessee on Sunday. UAB is 1-0 overall coming to Starkville after a 6-1 victory over Troy State in Birmingham Tuesday.

The Bulldogs own a 14-1 advantage over the Blazers all-time. Nine of those meetings have come in the last nine seasons in Starkville, including last year' 5-2 Bulldog win. UAB is one of only four non-conference teams to have beaten MSU in Starkville in 53 such matches, posting a 5-2 win at State in 1993.

"UAB will be another tough test for us," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They always have a solid team and this year is no different."

Following Thursday's action, State will have over a week off before its next match. MSU will host 38th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday, February 27, at 1 p.m. ULL upset MSU in Starkville 4-3 last year.

The new individual national rankings were also released Wednesday. State's Marco Baron was 10th in the country in singles, while he and partner Charles Sevigny were 16th in doubles. True freshman Jerome Le Belicard was tied for 74th in singles and senior Jeremy Bayon was tied for No. 101.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/17/00 - Mississippi State's women's tennis team moved up five spots to No. 28 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings it was announced Wednesday. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference action.

The jump in the polls comes on the heels of MSU's 6-3 victory over then-No. 23 Louisiana State in Baton Rouge last weekend. The victory marked the first win over a top 25 team since MSU downed then-19th-ranked Kentucky in Starkville during the 1991 season. It also marked State's first victory over a higher-ranked team on the road since 1991.

State's No. 1 doubles team of senior Eimear Sloan and sophomore Carole Soubis also moved up in the rankings from No. 35 to No. 24. Sloan and Soubis are currently 10-4 on the year. In singles, State suffered a bit as junior Amelie Detriviere fell from No. 60 to No. 91 and senior Ivana Belancic, who was tied for 93rd, dropped out of the top 100.

MSU will return to action this weekend for a pair of matches. The Lady Bulldogs will host No. 67 Middle Tennessee at 2:30 p.m. Friday. State will also entertain SEC foe Alabama at 1 p.m. Sunday.

MSU WOMEN IN THE INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION SPRING #3 RANKINGS

TEAM -- #32
SINGLES -- #91 Amelie Detriviere
DOUBLES -- #24 Eimear Sloan/Carole Soubis

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department media relations department

02/13/00 (7:15 p.m.) - Mississippi State's 13th-ranked men's tennis team rebounded from its first loss of the season Thursday with an impressive 7-0 shutout of 49th-ranked Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

With the victory, MSU improved to 2-1 overall. MT fell to 6-2.

State opened the match solidly by sweeping doubles play with 8-6, 8-5, and 8-3 wins. In singles, MSU was just as strong, winning all six matches in straight sets.

Giving the Bulldogs a strong advantage early were newcomers Charles Sevigny and Jerome Le Belicard, the first two true freshmen Bulldogs ever to enter the spring ranked in the top 100 nationally. Sevigny, ranked 83rd, downed Blue Raider Mark Pellerin 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 6 position. Le Belicard, tied for 80th in the country, followed soon after with a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Michael Chamberlain at No. 4.

Minutes later, the third true freshman in MSU's lineup, Rene'-Charles Combette, clinched the match for State, ousting Blue Raider Olle Nystrom 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot. MSU then completed the shutout with wins at the final three positions.

Senior Jeremy Bayon, ranked 92nd nationally, won 6-3, 6-2 over MT's Robert Gustafsson at the No. 2 position. Junior all-American Marco Baron, ranked seventh in the country, downed Daniel Klemetz 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot. And sophomore David Ruiz overcame an early service break in the second set to down Blue Raider Oliver Foreman 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3.

"I was very pleased with our play today," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "Many times in non-conference matches your team can lose their focus a little. That did not happen today. Our guys were very prepared. This was a team that we escaped with a 4-3 win over just last season. We played a solid match today to win 7-0."

State returns to action this Thursday, February 17th, hosting 37th-ranked UAB in a match that was postponed earlier in the year due to winter weather conditions. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at the Pitts Tennis Centre.

#13 MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, #49 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 0

DOUBLES--#8 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. #45 Oliver Foreman/Olle Nystrom (MT) 8-6; Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) def. Daniel Klemetz/Mark Pellerin (MT) 8-5; Jeremy Bayon/Rene'Charles Combette (MSU) def. Michael Chamberlain/Robert Gustafsson (MT) 8-3.

SINGLES--#7 Baron (MSU) def. Klemetz (MT) 6-2, 6-1; #92 Bayon (MSU) def. Gustafsson (MT) 6-3, 6-2; Ruiz (MSU) def. Oliver Foreman (MT) 6-3, 6-3; t#80 Le Belicard (MSU) def. Chamberlain (MT) 6-3, 6-0; Combette (MSU) def. Nystrom (MT) 6-2, 6-3; #83 Sevigny (MSU) def. Pellerin (MT) 6-2, 6-2.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/13/00 - Mississippi State's 33rd-ranked women's tennis team registered its biggest win in nearly 10 years Saturday afternoon, ousting 23rd-ranked LSU 6-3 to open the 2000 Southeastern Conference schedule.

State, now 3-1, 1-0 won four of six singles matches and two of three in doubles, to down the homestanding Lady Tigers, who dropped to 4-1, 0-1. The win was the first for the Lady Bulldogs over a top 25 team since 1991 when MSU downed 19th-ranked Kentucky in Starkville. The victory also marked State's first over LSU in Baton Rouge since 1988.

The teams split the first four matches off the court in singles, with LSU winning at the top two positions. Lady Bulldogs Carole Soubis and Anca Vasiloaica evened the tally with identical 6-3, 6-1 wins at the No. 3 and 6 positions, respectively. Soubis, a true freshman, downed Fernanda Tsucamoto while Vasiloaica bested Amy McIlhaney.

MSU gained the lead at 3-2 when Claudia Oliveira staved off LSU's Tami Botts for a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at the No. 4 spot. In the final singles match, sophomore Lady Bulldog Andrea Lord put State in the driver's seat heading into doubles, posting a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 comeback win over Lauren Haddix at No. 5.

The Lady Bulldogs wasted no time clinching the match in doubles, as Amelie Detriviere and Oliveira notched an impressive 8-1 win over LSU's tandem of Kelly Craycraft and Haddix at the No. 3 position.

The teams split the final two doubles matches, with State's pair of Ivana Belancic and Soubis upsetting 20th-ranked Lady Tigers Bruna Colosio and Ana Paula Mores at the No. 1 spot for MSU's sixth point of the match.

"I was very pleased with our play today," MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. "We were a little down after losing to South Alabama at home last weekend, but we really rebounded from that well today. We are very excited to start the SEC schedule with a win."

State will now return home for a two-match homestand next weekend. The Lady Bulldogs will entertain Middle Tennessee on Friday at 2:30 p.m. before welcoming No. 66 Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches are slated for play at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

t#33 MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, #23 LSU 3

SINGLES -- #20 Bruna Colosio (LSU) def. #60 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 6-4, 6-2; #37 Ana Paula Mores (LSU) def. t#93 Ivana Belancic (MSU) 6-4, 6-4; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Fernanda Tsucamoto (LSU) 6-3, 6-1; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Tami Botts (LSU) 6-4, 6-3; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Lauren Haddix (LSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Amy McIlhaney (LSU) 6-3, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- Belancic/Soubis (MSU) def. t#20 Colosio/Mores (LSU) 9-7; McIlhaney/Tsucamoto (LSU) def. Lord/Linda Mattsson (MSU) 8-6; Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Kelly Craycraft/Haddix (LSU) 8-1.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

02/13/00 - Mississippi State's 13th-ranked men's tennis team will return to dual match action Sunday, hosting 49th-ranked Middle Tennessee. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

State will bring a 1-1 record into the match, which will be the first played by the Bulldogs at the Pitts Centre this season. MT is 6-1 overall coming to Starkville.

The Bulldogs own a 10-0 advantage over the Blue Raiders all-time, eight of those wins coming in the last nine seasons in Starkville. Middle Tennessee gave State a stern challenge last season, with MSU pulling out a 4-3 victory.

"Middle Tennessee has always challenged us," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They haven't won the Ohio Valley Conference in eight of the last nine years without talent. This match will be a test for us."

Following Sunday's action, State will remain home for its next two matches. MSU will host 39th-ranked UAB this Thursday, February 17, at 2 p.m. in a match that was postponed earlier in the year. State will also entertain 37th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday, February 27. UAB and ULL are two of only three non-Southeastern Conference teams to have beaten MSU in Starkville since 1993.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/13/00 - Mississippi State senior jumper Rod Newton and the women's 4x400-meter relay team set new school marks Saturday at the Kroger Indoor Invitational.

Newton, a Crossett, Ark., native, won his fourth title in as many meets this season by leaping a record 7-3 in the Virginia Tech-hosted event. The standout senior surpassed the old MSU mark of 7-2 ½, set last by Chuck Ways in 1991. With his jump, Newton bested his previous NCAA provisional height of 7-1 ½ to give him an even greater chance of advancing to next month's NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Lady Bulldog 4x400-meter relay squad, consisting of freshman Janice Zawaski, senior LaToya Stephens and juniors Ann-Marie Anderson and Andrea Ingleton, set a new school record by bettering the 13 year-old mark of 3:46.87 with a second-place effort of 3:46.15.

"Obviously, the big story for us was Rod (Newton) getting the school record in the high jump," said MSU head coach Al Schmidt. "Our jumpers performed very well this weekend. I'm pleased with our progress in most areas, but now our big stars will have to step up at the SEC Indoors in two weeks."

Freshman sprinter Pierre Browne continued his streak of top-five finishes, ranking as the top collegiate finisher in the meet, but third overall, in the 60 meters in an all-time school sixth-best time of 6.76.

The Bulldogs also took two of the top-five finishes in the triple jump, with juniors Ian Roberston (50-11) and Vance Clarke (50-8 ¼) finishing third and fourth, respectively, in the non-team scored meet.

Sophomore standout sprinter Camille Harper recorded top-10 finishes in the 60 meters and the 200 meters. The Clinton, Miss., native finished sixth in the 60m in a time of 7.58, and recorded an all-time school fourth-best time of 24.77 in the 200m.

Freshman Joey Hansen posted the highest individual finish for the MSU women in the meet with a fourth-place showing in the 5,000-meter run in an all-time school third best clocking of 18:21.73.

Coach Schmidt's squads take next weekend off from competition to prepare for the SEC Indoor Championships, hosted by the University of Arkansas, Feb. 26-27.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/11/00 - National tennis powers Mississippi State and Mississippi produced another classic battle in their storied rivalry Thursday night, with the fifth-ranked Rebels holding off a charge from the 13th-ranked Bulldogs 4-2. It was Mississippi's first win in the three-year old River Hills Cup match.

In a contest that saw the Rebels have to win four tiebreakers, UM took the opening doubles point on the strength of two of those breakers with 9-8 victories at the No. 1 and 2 positions. State won 8-6 at the No. 3 spot.

In singles, the Bulldogs made a charge, winning two of the first three matches off the court. Mississippi's Vikrant Chada gave UM a 2-0 lead, downing 80th-ranked Bulldog Jerome Le Belicard 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 3 position in the first singles match complete.

Seventh-ranked Bulldog all-American Marco Baron downed Rebel James Shortall 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 1 position to cut the Rebel lead to 2-1. State's 92nd-ranked Jeremy Bayon then upset UM's 43rd-ranked Alexander Hartman 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 2 to knot the score at 2-2. The senior now holds a perfect 7-0 singles dual match record against Mississippi during his career.

But the MSU comeback stalled there, as Mississippi regained the lead at 3-2 when 96th-ranked Kristofer Stahlberg bested Bulldog David Ruiz 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 4 spot.

Needing the last two matches on court to win, State dropped first-set tiebreakers at both the No. 5 and 6 positions. UM's Anders Stenman then ended the match from there, downing 83rd-ranked Bulldog true freshman Charles Sevigny 7-6(3), 6-3 at the No. 6 position.

"Despite the loss, I was very, very pleased with our effort tonight," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We came into the match with a relatively inexperienced team, playing three true freshmen in our lineup in a pressure-filled situation.

"All of our guys fought hard and gave everything they had against a very, very talented team and that's all I can ask. Now we have to get ready for our next match."

State returns to action Sunday, hosting 49th-ranked Middle Tennessee. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

#5 MISSISSIPPI 4 , #13 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2

DOUBLES--Vikrant Chada/James Shortall (UM) de.f #8 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) 9-8(3); Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) def. Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) 9-8(4); Jeremy Bayon/Rene'-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Martin Selin/Kristofer Stahlberg (UM) 8-6.
SINGLES--#7 Baron (MSU) def. Shortall (UM) 6-3, 6-3; #92 Bayon (MSU) def. #43 Hartman (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Chada (UM) def. t#80 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-2, 6-4; #96 Stahlberg (UM) def. Ruiz (MSU) 6-2, 6-4; Combette (MSU) vs. #76 Selin (UM)--suspended; Stenman (UM) def. #83 Sevigny (MSU) 7-6(3), 6-3.M

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/10/00 - The Mississippi State men’s and women’s tracksters travel this weekend to Blacksburg, Va., to compete in the Kroger Valentine’s Indoor Track and Field Invitational.

Coach Al Schmidt’s squads face several of the top-25 teams from around the country in the 30-team field. Among the ranked squads on the men’s side in the Virginia Tech-hosted meet are No. 5 Clemson and two SEC foes, 13th-ranked South Carolina and No. 20 Tennessee. On the women’s side, the Lady Bulldogs will go up against two top-10 teams, No. 2 South Carolina and No. 9 North Carolina.

Senior Bulldog jumper Rod Newton looks to claim his fourth win in the high jump in as many outings, after winning the event at the Houston Indoor Invitational last weekend. Freshman sprinter Pierre Browne also looks to continue doing well after finishing second in the 60 meters behind the defending Big 12 defending champion at the Houston-hosted meet. Browne has finished in the top-two in each of his three collegiate races.

The Lady Bulldog squad continues its schedule after their runner-up finish at last weekend’s meet. MSU posted several top-five finishes, including those by senior jumpers Crystal Gibbs and Pat Barr. Gibbs and Barr finished second and third, respectively, in the triple jump with identical leaps of 37-3 1/4. Senior distance runner Karin Haber finished second in the mile run with a clocking of 5:18.89. State freshman hurdler LeKisha Barnaby-Pope finished third in the 60-meter hurdles in a school third-best time of 8.96.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/09/00 - Mississippi State University has signed four high school volleyball standouts to national letters of intent, MSU volleyball coach Brenda Bowlin announced this week.

Inking with the Volleyball Bulldogs are middle blocker Nicole Broome of Chuluota, Fla., middle blocker Hilary Chambers of Highland Ranch, Colo., setter Jennifer Hadden of Marysville, Mich., and outside hitter Tanika Taylor of Rowlett, Texas.

"We're tremendously pleased that these student-athletes will be continuing their volleyball careers at Mississippi State," said Bulldog head coach Brenda Bowlin. "They come from outstanding high school programs, have a great deal of additional experience in club volleyball competition, and have excellent academic backgrounds. We needed to add quality players at all positions after losing three outstanding senior players this year, and we believe we have been successful in filling those needs."

Broome starred for coach Tito DeLeon at Oviedo (Fla.) High School, earning second-team all-state and team MVP honors as a senior. An all-county and all-central Florida first team selection, Broome led her team with 210 kills and 140 blocks in 1999. She also paced the Lions with 172 kills and 120 blocks her junior campaign, helping lead OHS to the district championship.

An honor roll student, Broome also lettered two years in basketball and three years in track. She is the daughter of Jim and Tiffany Broome of Oviedo, Fla.

Chambers, an honorable mention all-state selection in 1999, lettered three years and was a two-year starter as a middle blocker and rightside hitter for coach Deb Plummer at Highland Ranch High School. She captained the Falcons as a senior, ranking third in the state with 124 total blocks. Chambers also piled up 115 kills en route to her second career all-conference designation while leading HRHS to a 21-8 mark and a regional championship. In her last three varsity seasons her teams compiled a sparkling 71-16 composite record.

The Bulldog signee also competed for five years for coach Jim Miret's Front Range club volleyball team. She is the daughter of Keith and Colleen Chambers of Highland Ranch, Col.

Hadden has enjoyed a stellar prep career as a setter for Marysville (Mich.) High School. She earned all-state and all-conference recognition as a junior, helping lead coach John Knuth's MHS squad to its third consecutive unbeaten season (58-0)and state volleyball title last year. Including this year's 24-1 mid-season record, Hadden's teams have compiled an incredible 198-1 record in 3-1/2 seasons.

A member of the National Honor Society and an active leader in student government and other school activities, Hadden is a three-time letter-winner in basketball and a four-year member and two-time team captain of the Blue Water Volleyball Club. She is the daughter of Tom and Sue Hadden.

Taylor is a multi-sport standout from Rowlett (Texas) High School, where she helped guide coach Cathy Bothun's RHS Eagles volleyball team to back-to-back 14-0 district records the past two seasons. A four-year letter-winner in basketball, softball and volleyball, Taylor earned district MVP honors in volleyball as a junior and senior, averaging better than 10 kills and nearly five blocks per game while her team piled up a two-year 52-17 mark.

A member of the National Honor Society, Taylor served as captain of her teams in volleyball, softball and basketball. the MSU signee is the daughter of Larry and Elizabeth Taylor of Rowlett, Texas.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/07/00 - No. 32 Mississippi State suffered its first loss of the dual match season here Sunday, falling to 20th-ranked South Alabama 7-2. MSU is now 2-1 on the season, while USA evens its record at 1-1.

South Alabama took five of the six single matches. At No. 1 singles, Silvia Sosnorova, who is tied for 44th nationally, defeated MSU's 60th-ranked Amelie Detriviere 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. At No. 2 singles, 82nd-ranked Martina Ondrejkova edged State's Ivana Belancic, who is tied for No. 93 nationally, 7-6(2), 6-3.

At No. 3 singles, MSU's Carole Soubis lost a tough three-set match to No. 83 Anke Roos 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Lady Bulldog Claudia Oliveira fell to Marjketa Blazkova, who is tied for No. 101 nationally, 6-2, 7-5.

Andrea Lord posted the lone singles victory for State with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Marcela Kotesovcova at No. 5 singles. The win extended Lord¢s winning streak to six matches. Eimear Sloan of MSU was topped at No. 6 singles by Vanda Novakova 6-3, 6-2.

In doubles action, State's 35th-ranked tandem of Sloan and Soubis ran into the nation's top-ranked doubles team in Ondrejkova and Iva Puflerova. The Jaguars were victorious 8-1. At No. 2 doubles, Belancic and Linda Mattsson fell 8-6 to Kotesovcova and Sosnarova. Detriviere and Oliveira posted their second straight victory in doubles with an 8-5 win over Tracey Gobey and Novakova at the No. 3 spot.

No. 20 SOUTH ALABAMA 7, NO. 32 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
Starkville, Miss. -- Feb. 6, 2000

SINGLES -- t-#44 Silvia Sosnarova (USA) def. #60 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; #82 Martina Ondrejkova (USA) def. t-#93 Ivana Belancic (MSU) 7-6(2), 6-3; #83 Anke Roos (USA) def. Carole Soubis (MSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; t-#101 Marjketa Blazkova (USA) def. Claudia Oliveira (MSU)6-2, 7-5; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Marcela Kotesovcova (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Vanda Novakova (USA) def. Eimear Sloan (MSU) 6-3, 6-2.

DOUBLES -- #1 Ondrejkova/Iva Puflerova (USA) def. #35 Sloan/Soubis (MSU) 8-1; Kotesovcova/Sosnarova (USA) def. Belancic/Mattsson (MSU) 8-6; Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Novakova/Tracy Gobey (USA) 8-5.

# -- indicates ranking according to ITA Rankings day of match

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/06/00 - The Mississippi State Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs track and field teams defeated in-state rivals Mississippi and Southern Mississippi en route to fifth and second-place finishes respectively at the Houston Indoor Invitational in Houston, Texas, Saturday.

The Bulldogs were led for the third time this season by senior jumper Rod Newton and freshman sprinter Pierre Browne.

For the third consecutive outing, Newton, a Crossett Ark., native, won in his event, the high jump, at the University of Houston-hosted meet with a leap of 7-l. Browne earned a second-place finish in the 60-meters in a time of 6.79. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native finished just behind Amar Johnson from the University Texas, who is the defending Big-12 60-meter champion.

The Lady Bulldogs took second in the seven-team field behind strong outings from several members.

"Our women put together a solid team performance," said Head Coach Al Schmidt. "We had some problems with Christine (Zawaski) and LeeAnn Ripstra not competing in the endurance races because of the flu."

Senior jumper Crystal Gibbs finished second in the triple jump with a school fourth-best leap of 37-3 ¼. Also finishing second for MSU was senior distance runner Karin Haber, who clocked a time of 5:18.59 in the mile. The Lady Bulldogs also saw several third-place finishes including; senior Pat Barr in the triple jump (37-3 ¼), sophomore Camille Harper in the 60-meters (7.57), freshman LeKisha Barnaby-Pope in the 60-meter high hurdles (8.86), and the 4x400-meter relay squad (3:51.06).

Sophomore Viktor Mara claimed personal records in the weight throw with a toss of 48-9, a school fifth-best toss and in the shot put with a throw of 48-4 ¾. Senior jumper Pat Barr also set a new personal record with a school fourth-best mark in the high jump of 5-4 ¼.

Coach Schmidt's squad will travel next weekend to Blacksburg, Va., to compete in the Virginia Tech Valentine's Invitational.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/05/00 - No. 32 Mississippi State won all six singles matches and went on to an 8-1 victory here Friday over 46th-ranked Tulane. MSU improves to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Tulane falls to 1-1.

This was State's first win over Tulane since the teams first met back in 1979. Tulane still leads the series 5-2; however, the Lady Bulldogs and the Green Wave had not met since 1988. "This was a very good win for us to get ready for a tough South Alabama team Sunday," MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. "All the girls are playing much more solidly now, and we're just going to take that and build on it in the upcoming days."

Amelie Detriviere, ranked 60th nationally, defeated Anna Monhartova, who is tied for No. 62 nationally, 6-2, 6-1 in No. 1 singles. Ivana Belancic, who is tied for 93rd nationally, took care of Jessica Kessler 6-1, 6-1 in No. 2 singles.

In No. 3 singles, Carole Soubis came back from down 5-4 in the second set to post a 6-3, 7-5 win over Maiko Cook. Claudia Oliveira also erased a 5-4, second-set deficit in No. 4 singles with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Julie Morris. No. 5 singles saw the lone three-set match of the day as Andrea Lord defeated Anneli Axsater 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3. At the No. 6 spot, Eimear Sloan topped Joyce Bergman 6-2, 6-1 in less than an hour.

The 35th-ranked tandem of Sloan and Soubis rebounded from a 5-4 deficit to take care of Bergman and Cook 8-5 in No. 1 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Detriviere and Oliveira downed Morris and Axsater 8-3. State's only loss of the day came in No. 2 doubles, where Belancic and Linda Mattsson were edged 8-4 by Kessler and Monhartova.

MSU will return to action Sunday, hosting No. 20 South Alabama at 1 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

NO. 32 MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, NO. 46 TULANE 1
Starkville, Miss. -- Feb. 4, 2000

SINGLES -- #60 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Anna Monhartova (Tulane) 6-1, 6-2; t-#93 Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Jessica Kessler (Tulane) 6-1, 6-1; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Maiko Cook (Tulane) 6-3, 7-5; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Julie Morris (Tulane) 6-4, 7-5; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Anneli Axsater (Tulane) 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3; Eimear Sloan (MSU) def. Joyce Bergman (Tulane) 6-2, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- #35 Sloan/Soubis (MSU) def. Bergman/Cook (Tulane) 8-5; Kessler/Monhartova (Tulane) def. Belancic/Mattsson (MSU) 8-4; Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Morris/Axsater (Tulane) 8-3.

# -- indicates ranking according to ITA Rankings day of match

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/04/00 - Mississippi State's doubles team of Chris McDonald and Mathieu Soto dropped their first-round match at the Rolex National Indoor Championships Thursday. The event is the third leg of the Collegiate Grand Slam.

The 43rd-ranked MSU tandem fell 6-3, 7-6(4) to Columbia University's 19th-ranked duo of Salil Seshadri and Akram Zaman.

McDonald and Soto were to begin consolation play late Thursday night. The Bulldog tandem was one of only 16 teams in the nation which qualified to play in the prestigious event, reaching the finals of the ITA Region III Indoor Championships in November to do so.

MSU RESULTS FROM THE ROLEX NATIONAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dallas, Texas -- 2/3/00

DOUBLES--MAIN DRAW

First Round--#19 Salil Seshadri/Akram Zaman (Columbia) def. #43 Chris McDonald/Mathieu Soto (MSU).

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with permission from the MSU sports media relations department

02/04/00 - Mississippi State's 32nd-ranked women's tennis team will return to action here Friday, hosting No. 46 Tulane at 2:30 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. Both teams enter at 1-0 on the season.

Tulane holds a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series. MSU's lone victory was in the first meeting back in 1979 when the Lady Bulldogs won 6-3 in Mobile, Ala. State and Tulane have not met since Feb. 14, 1988 when the Green Wave edged MSU 5-4 at the Wildcat Classic in Tuscon, Ariz. Tulane's last visit to Starkville was in 1985 and resulted in a 5-3 Green Wave victory.

The Lady Bulldogs will be led by junior Amelie Detriviere, who carries a national ranking of No. 60. Detriviere is 11-6 on the year and 1-0 in dual action after defeating Caroline Weems of Southern Mississippi 6-1, 6-2 last Saturday.

Also ranked nationally for MSU is senior Ivana Belancic, who is tied for 93rd in singles. Eimear Sloan and Carole Soubis are ranked 35th in doubles action. Andrea Lord and Linda Mattsson lead the Lady Bulldogs in victories with 18 wins each.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

02/01/00 - The men's tennis match between 14th-ranked Mississippi State and 43rd-ranked UAB, cancelled this past Sunday due to weather reasons, has been rescheduled.

The Bulldogs and Blazers will square off on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The match becomes part of a three-match home stand for State which will also feature Middle Tennessee (Feb. 13) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Feb. 27).

Following individual action at the Rolex National Indoors, the third leg of the Collegiate Grand Slam, this weekend, MSU's next dual match action will be Thursday, Feb. 10, when the Bulldogs meet sixth-ranked, arch-rival Mississippi in the River Hills Cup in Jackson at 5 p.m. The annual event at Jackson's River Hills Club enters its third year of existence this season with MSU having claimed wins in each of the first two years.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

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