03/31/00
Women's Tennis - Mississippi's Mariana Eberle pulled out a 7-4 win in the tie breaker of the third set over Mississippi State's Claudia Oliveira at No. 4 singles to secure an eventual 7-2 victory for the 17th-ranked Lady Rebels over No. 23 MSU here Thursday.

With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs fall to 9-5 on the season and 3-4 in Southeastern Conference play. Mississippi, meanwhile, improves to 12-5 and 5-2. The Lady Rebels are now 36-5 all-time against MSU and have won the last 12 meetings.

Eberle fought back from down 6-5 in the third set, and then pulled away in the tie breaker from 4-4. That match last two hours, forty minutes and saw several momentum swings. After dropping the first set 6-0, Oliveira bounced back with a 6-4 win in the second set. However, it was not to be as the Eberle victory gave Mississippi a 5-1 lead after singles.

MSU's lone victory in singles came at the No. 2 spot where senior Ivana Belancic upset Julie DeRoo, who is currently tied for 40th nationally, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. Mississippi won the third three-set match of the afternoon as No. 33 Mira Radu topped Andrea Lord 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 at No. 5.

No. 21 Ivona Mihailova defeated MSU's Amelie Detriviere 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 singles, while Lady Bulldog Anca Vasiloaica was edged 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6 by Alesya Ignatieva. MSU sophomore Carole Soubis was forced to retire due to injury, trailing 5-0 in the first set to 28th-ranked Celeste Frey in No. 3 singles.

In doubles action, MSU scored an 8-6 triumph at No. 2 with Belancic and Lord topping Frey and Irena Mihailova. At No. 1 singles, Detriviere and Oliveira fell 8-4 to DeRoo and Eberle. Linda Mattsson and Vasiloaica dropped a see-saw, 9-7 match to Ivona Mihailova and Ignatieva at No. 3.

MSU will return to action Saturday, hosting third-ranked Georgia at noon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

No. 17 MISSISSIPPI 7, No. 23 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
Starkville, Miss. -- March 30, 2000

SINGLES -- #21 Ivona Mihailova (UM) def. #77 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 7-5, 6-1; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. t#40 Julie DeRoo (UM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0; #28 Celeste Frey (UM) def. Carole Soubis (MSU) 5-0, ret.; Mariana Eberle (UM) def. Claudia Oliveira (MSU) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(4); #33 Mira Radu (UM) def. Andrea Lord (MSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1; Alesya Ignatieva (UM) def. Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) 6-3, 6-4.

DOUBLES -- DeRoo/Eberle (UM) def. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) 8-4; Belancic/Lord (MSU) def. Frey/Irena Mihailova (UM) 8-6; Ivona Mihailova/Ignatieva (UM) def. Linda Mattsson/Vasiloaica (MSU) 9-7.

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

With the loss, State fell to 6-5 overall, 2-4 in SEC play. Tennessee improved to 14-4, 6-1. With the victory, the Volunteers also broke a seven-match losing skid to the Bulldogs that dated back to the 1994 season.

State took the doubles point with convincing wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions. At No. 1, 18th-ranked Bulldogs Marco Baron and Charles Sevigny downed 24th-ranked Volunteers Adam Carey and Mark Parsons 8-2. At No. 2, MSU's team of Jeremy Bayon and René-Charles Combette improved to 10-1 in dual matches in upsetting UT's 44th-ranked tandem of Mark Fitzpatrick and Paul Podbury 8-4.

But the Vols rallied in singles, winning five first sets en route to the comeback.

UT¹s 43rd-ranked Peter Handoyo tied the match at 1-1, ousting 90th-ranked Bulldog Jerome Le Belicard 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 3 position. MSU went up 2-1 when Baron, ranked seventh nationally, bested UT's Tate Roberts 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. Tennessee tied the match again at 2-2 when Carey, ranked 66th, held off State's Combette 7-6(1), 6-3. The loss marked the MSU true freshman's first dual match singles loss in 10 outings this season.

The Volunteers would then pull out two three-set matches to clinch the team victory. Parsons, ranked 27th in the country, fended off MSU's Bayon, ranked 69th, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at the No. 2 position. Clinching the contest for UT was Podbury, ranked 93rd, who downed MSU's Sevigny 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot.

The final match of the day between State's Mathieu Soto and Fitzpatrick was defaulted to MSU after the players had split sets and the match had been clinched by UT.

"We knew after we won the doubles point we would still have to play very well in singles because they are very talented at every position," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "Like at Georgia Sunday, we got into position to win the match, but could not quite pull it out.

"I am still pleased with the overall effort our team is giving, however. We have lost some matches, but all of them have been close to very good teams on the road."

The Bulldogs continue SEC action Sunday when they return home to host 27th-ranked Auburn. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

#12 TENNESSEE 4, #24 MISSISSIPPI STATE 3

DOUBLES--#18 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. #24 Adam Carey/Mark Parsons (UT) 8-2; Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. #44 Mark Fitzpatrick/Paul Podbury (UT) 8-4; #32 Andy Crews/Peter Handoyo (UT) def. Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) 8-5.

SINGLES-- #7 Baron (MSU) def. Tate Roberts (UT) 6-2, 6-2; #27 Parsons (UT) def. #69 Bayon (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2; #43 Handoyo (UT) def. #90 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-2, 6-0; #66 Carey (UT) def. Combette (MSU) 7-6(1), 6-3; #93 Podbury (UT) def. Sevigny (MSU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2; Mathieu Soto (MSU) def. Fitzpatrick (UT) 4-6, 7-6(5), def.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/30/00
Men's Golf - Mississippi State's men's golf team moved up one spot to No. 42 in the latest MasterCard rankings, it was announced Wednesday by the College Golf Foundation. Georgia Tech held on to the nation's top ranking for the fifth consecutive week.

Meanwhile, senior Alex Rocha fell three spots in the individual rankings, dropping from 17th to No. 20, despite not playing last week. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native leads the Southeastern Conference in both scoring average (70.27) and top-ten finishes (six).

Matt Kuchar of Georgia Tech leads all individuals. Luke Donald of Northwestern and Kuchar's teammate, Bryce Molder, follow in second and third, respectively.

In other news, the Southeastern Conference men's golf championships will be played at Turtle Point Country Club in Killen, Ala., the conference office announced Tuesday. The championships, which were originally slated to be in Oxford, Miss., will be held April 21-23 with 18 holes played each day.

This will be the first visit to Turtle Point for the championships since 1988, when Georgia was the tournament champion. Turtle Point also served as host site in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

MSU will return to action April 7-9 as the Bulldogs travel to Auburn, Ala., for the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate at Saugahatchee Country Club.

The Lady Bulldogs went 1-1 last week with a win at home over then-No. 49 Auburn at home. Sunday, State dropped a 5-4 decision at then-No. 59 Arkansas. MSU enters Thursday's match at 9-4 on the season with a 3-3 ledger in Southeastern Conference play. Mississippi comes to town toting an 11-5 mark and a 4-2 record in conference action.

This will be the 41st meeting between the two Magnolia State institutions. Mississippi holds a 35-5 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to the Lady Bulldogs' inaugural season of 1974-75. The Lady Rebels, who claimed last season's SEC Tournament title, have won the last 11 meetings, including an 8-1 decision in Oxford last year.

State is 1-3 this season against top 25 teams. MSU defeated then-No. 23 Louisiana State in Baton Rouge in mid-February, but dropped matches to then-No. 20 South Alabama, then-No. 16 Vanderbilt and then-No. 5 Florida, the last two of which came on the road.

Junior Amelie Detriviere, who is ranked 81st in this week's single's rankings, will lead the MSU charge. Detriviere will be looking to avoid her first three-match losing streak of the year after dropping matches Andrea Piski of Auburn and Chin Bee Khoo of Arkansas last weekend. At 18-11, the Bressiure, France, native is three wins shy of matching her career high of 21 victories from a year ago.

There will a chance for history in the match as sophomore Andrea Lord will be pursuing her 29th singles win on the year. That would match Sue Pennington's school mark, which was set during the 1981-82 season. Lord is 28-8 this year and already ranks tied for seventh all-time at MSU with 50 career singles wins.

In doubles, senior Eimear Sloan and sophomore Carole Soubis will be seeking their 15th doubles triumph of the year. At 14-6, the tandem is tied for 10th all-time at MSU for doubles victories in a season.

Should inclement weather invade the Starkville area, the match will be moved indoors to McCarthy Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs will carry a 6-4 overall record, 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference, into Thursday's match following a 5-2 loss at defending national champion Georgia Sunday. The Volunteers are 13-4, 5-1 coming off a 4-0 win at Kentucky on Tuesday.

State has won the seven contests between the schools, the last three in Knoxville. MSU was 2-0 against UT last season when MSU won 4-3 in Starkville during the regular season and by the same score in Knoxville in the second round of the NCAA Championship.

"Tennessee has one of the best teams in the conference and the country this season and that is evident by their results so far," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We will have to be very prepared to upset them on the road."

In Wednesday's new individual national rankings, State continued to have three singles players and a doubles team among the country's best.

In singles, junior all-American Marco Baron is now seventh in the country, senior Jeremy Bayon jumped nearly 30 spots to 69th, while freshman Jerome Le Belicard slid to 90th. In doubles, Baron and partner Charles Sevigny fell two spots to 18th nationally.

Following Thursday's Tennessee match, MSU will return home Sunday to host 27th-ranked Auburn at 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/29/00 - Mississippi State sophomore golfer Anna Gertsson was named the Southeastern Conference Women's Golfer of the Week, the SEC announced Tuesday. She becomes the first Mississippi State women's golfer to win the award.

Gertsson, an Almhut, Sweden native, carded a seven-over par 223 and finished in a tie for third at the Bryan National Collegiate over the weekend. She is the first Lady Bulldog to record a top-five finish this spring, and her 223 was the best 54-hole total by a Lady Bulldog since she and teammate Lina Thoren fired 221s in the last tournament of the fall.

"This is an nice honor for Anna," Head Coach Christi Sanders said. "She played very well this past weekend, as did all of our golfers. I was especially pleased with the way she finished the tournament, shooting 73-74 on the last two days."

Gertsson is currently ranked eighth in the SEC with a 75.90 stroke average. Her third place finish at the Bryan National was her fourth top-10 finish this season, tying her for third most in the conference. Gertsson's best finish was first at the USF-Beacon Woods Invitational in October.

The Lady Bulldogs are currently preparing to play in the LSU Invitational April 7-9.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/27/00
Men's Tennis - Despite winning the opening doubles point, Mississippi State's 21st-ranked men¹s tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to 32nd-ranked Georgia on the road Sunday in a tight match that featured three tiebreakers and two three-set matches in singles play.

With the loss, State fell to 6-4 overall, 2-3 in Southeastern Conference play. Georgia improved to 10-6, 4-1.

State opened the match by taking the opening doubles point with 8-4 wins at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Georgia salvaged the No. 1 position with a 9-8(6) tiebreak victory.

In singles, Georgia put pressure on MSU early, winning the first set in four of six contests and the Athens-based Bulldogs would use that start to post the comeback. UGA won in straight sets in the first four matches off the court to clinch the team victory.

First off was the No. 6 position, where Brandon Wagner downed MSU's David Ruiz 6-2, 6-2. Georgia's 69th-ranked Lesley Joseph then held off MSU's 79th-ranked Jerome Le Belicard 6-2, 7-6(1) at No. 3 for a 2-1 UGA lead. Georgia's Nicolas Boeker won next, edging MSU's Charles Sevigny 6-4, 7-6(3) at the No. 5 spot.

Clinching the match for UGA was Adam Seri who outlasted MSU's 96th-ranked Jeremy Bayon for a 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 win at the No. 2 position.

After the match had been clinched, MSU got its only singles point on the board when true freshman Rene'-Charles Combette fended off UGA's Travis Parrott for a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory at the No. 4 spot. With his wins in singles and doubles Sunday, Combette is now 18-1 in all dual matches as a Bulldog, 9-0 in singles action.

In the final match of the day, Georgia's 38th-ranked Matias Boeker came back to upset MSU's sixth-ranked Marco Baron 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 1 position.

"We had chances to win this match," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "There were several close matches, but Georgia got back in the match early and that put a little more pressure on us in the matches that were still out."

State will be back on the road for its next match, travelling to 11th-ranked Tennessee Thursday.

#32 GEORGIA 5, #21 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2

DOUBLES - #22 Matias Boeker/Travis Parrott (UGA) def. #16 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) 9-8(6); Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Lesley Joseph/Brandon Wagner (UGA) 8-4; Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) def. Nicolas Boeker/Demetris Leontis (UGA) 8-4.

SINGLES--#38 M.Boeker (UGA) def. #6 Baron (MSU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Adam Seri (UGA) def. #96 Bayon (MSU) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3; #69 Joseph (UGA) def. t#79 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-2, 7-6(1); Combette (MSU) def. Parrott (UGA) 6-4, 7-6(6); N.Boeker (UGA) def. Sevigny (MSU) 6-4, 7-6(3); Wagner (UGA) def. Ruiz (MSU) 6-2, 6-2.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Gertsson, who entered the weekend with the 12th best stroke average in the SEC, recorded her fourth top-10 finish of the season with a three-day score of 223. Junior Lina Thoren finished two strokes behind Gertsson in a tie for ninth place. It was Thoren's SEC-best tying fifth top-10 finish of the year.

Senior Sue Phillips, playing in only her third tournament of the season, shot a final-round 228 to record the second top-20 finish of her career. Freshman Christina Clausen carded an 80 on the final day of competition to finish tied for 20th. Senior Pia Josefsson shot a third-round 83 to finish in a tie for 53rd.

MSU tied a school-record with its fourth top-three finish of the season. The Lady Bulldog's 54-hole total of 906 is the sixth-best score in school history.

The Lady Bulldogs will enjoy a weekend off before heading to Baton Rouge to play in the LSU Invitational April 7-9.

TEAM RESULTS (par 72, 6237 yards):
1. Wake Forest 295-301-300=896
2. Indiana 305-288-308=901
3. Mississippi State 304-295-307=906
4. North Carolina 304-304-305=913
Vanderbilt 311-300-302=913
6. New Mexico 303-308-305=916
7. Ohio State 303-306-311=920
8. Florida State 305-309-318=932
9. Kentucky 316-307-316=939
10. UNC-Greensboro 321-310-315=941
11. Penn State 306-316-322=944
12. Memphis 321-310-315=946
UNC-Wilmington 318-316-312=946
14. Louisville 318-302-330=950
15. Wm. & Mary 324-324-347=995

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (par 72, 6237 yards):
t3. Anna Gertsson 76-73-74=223
t9. Lina Thoren 76-73-76=225
t16. Sue Phillips 77-74-77=228
t20. Christina Clausen 75-75-80=230
t53. Pia Josefsson 80-78-83=24

Sophomore sprinter Camille Harper tied for fourth place in the 100-meter dash with a clocking of 11.77 in the event. The Clinton, Miss., native finished tied as the second-highest collegiate participant in the 100 meters being narrowly eclipsed by Staciann Brown of West Virginia, who ran a time of 11.76.

The Lady Bulldogs also posted top-10 performances by junior jumper Elisha Williams and freshman hurdler LeKisha Barnaby-Pope. Williams took seventh place in the long jump with a leap of 19-9 3/4, while Barnaby-Pope finished 10th in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.41 that ranks third-best in MSU history.

The MSU men were led by a pair of pole-vaulters in the Alabama-hosted meet. Freshman Kevin Pittman finished fourth clearing a height of 15-7, that ranks fourth best in school history. A clearance of 14-7 1/4 by senior Chris Moore claimed the Bulldogs' other top-10 finish.

Sophomore thrower Viktor Mara set new personal bests in the hammer throw and the shot put. The London, Ontario, Canada, native claimed 12th-place in the hammer with a school fourth-best toss of 147-7 and 13th-place in the shot put with a throw of 47-3.

Coach Al Schmidt's men's squad finished the final day of competition with two top-10 individual performances. Senior jumper Rod Newton finished third in the high jump with a height of 6-8 ¾, while junior Vance Clarke nabbed sixth place in the triple jump with a leap of 50-6 ¼.

The Lady Bulldogs earned four top-10 finishes in the relay events including a fourth-place finish by the 4x100-meter relay squad and a ninth-place finish in the 4x400 finishing in a time of 1:39.21, that ranks third best in MSU history.

Junior thrower Trish Curtis finished the day as the Lady Bulldogs only top-10 performer with her hammer throw of 158-3 that earned a ninth-place finish.

The MSU track squads return to action at home on April 1 in the Bulldog Invitational, which is one of three home meets slated for the month at W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox Track. Division I teams scheduled to compete in the meet are Troy State and Louisiana Tech and the meet is open to the public free of charge.

With the loss, State falls to 9-4 on the year and 3-3 in SEC play. Arkansas, meanwhile, improves to 4-9 and 2-4 with just its second victory in its last 11 matches.

The teams split the six singles matches with Arkansas winning the three higher seeds and MSU taking seeds four through six. However, the Lady 'Backs posted 8-1 wins at both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to capture the upset.

The momentum shifted when No. 72 Brenda Vlasak defeated Lady Bulldog Carole Soubis 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles. It marked just the second time in 12 three-set matches this year that Soubis was not victorious.

That tied the match at 3-3 heading to doubles, where the 39th-ranked duo of Chin Bee Khoo and Andrea Ho of Arkansas made quick work of Eimear Sloan and Soubis at No. 1 doubles to put the home team up 4-3. Arkansas clinched the victory at No. 2 doubles, where the 32nd-ranked tandem of Adriana Lopez and Vlasak for the 8-1 triumph over Ivana Belancic and Andrea Lord.

State salvaged No. 3 doubles as Amelie Detriviere and Claudia Oliveira defeated Julia Boyadjieva and Tara Reid 8-3.

At No. 1 singles, 77th-ranked Amelie Detriviere was up-ended 6-3, 6-2 by 20th-ranked Khoo. At No. 2 singles, Ho slipped past MSU's Ivana Belancic 6-4, 6-4.

Oliveira was victorious at No. 4 singles for the Lady Bulldogs, winning 6-3, 7-6(3) at No. 4 singles over Lopez. Lord continued to roll at No. 5 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Reid. She is now just one singles win shy of the MSU record for such in a year with 28. At No. 6 singles, Anca Vasiloaica captured her career-best 17th victory on the year with 6-2, 6-4 victory over Boyadjieva.

Arkansas now leads the series 6-3 and the Lady 'Backs have won the last five meetings. State failed to post its first-ever victory in Fayetteville.

MSU will return home for its next four matches, all in the SEC and beginning Thursday with a 2:30 p.m. match against 17th-ranked Mississippi.

No. 59 ARKANSAS 5, No. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE 4
Fayetteville, Ark. -- March 26, 2000

SINGLES -- #20 Chin Bee Khoo (UA) def. #77 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 6-, 6-2; Andrea Ho (UA) def. Ivana Belancic (MSU) 6-4, 6-4; #72 Brenda Vlasak (UA) def. Carole Soubis (MSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Adriana Lopez (UA) 6-3, 7-6(3); Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Tara Reid (UA) 6-0, 6-0; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Julia Boyadjieva (UA) 6-2, 6-4.

DOUBLES -- #39 Khoo/Ho (UA) def. Eimear Sloan/Soubis (MSU) 8-1; #32 Lopez/Vlasak (UA) def. Belancic/Lord (MSU) 8-1; Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Boyadjieva/Reid (UA) 8-3.

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

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department

03/26/00
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State¹s 21st-ranked men¹s tennis team will continue 2000 competition Sunday, travelling to Athens, Ga., to take on 32nd-ranked Georgia. Match time is set for 1 p.m. ET at UGA¹s Henry Feild Stadium.

State will carry a 6-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference record into the match after wins in its last two matches against Arkansas and South Carolina last week. Georgia, which has struggled somewhat this season after its 1999 national championship, is 9-6 overall, 3-1 in the SEC. Five of its six losses have been by one point.

Georgia owns a 33-4 series lead over MSU and has won the last six meetings between the schools. MSU has never won in Athens.

"Despite their record and ranking, Georgia is still a team to be reckoned with this year," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They have lost several close matches, all to good teams, and one of their best players was injured before the season ever started.

"As with any match, we have an opportunity to win this match, but we will have to very focused and play our best."

Following Sunday¹s action, MSU will hit the road again for its next match, at No. 11 Tennessee on Thursday.

MSU was led by junior Lina Thoren and sophomore Anna Gertsson, who both fired 73's to claim a share of ninth place in the individual competition. Senior Sue Phillips recorded her second lowest round of the 1999-2000 season to move into a tie for 15th place. Phillips, Thoren and Gertsson each bettered their first-round scores by three strokes.

Freshman Christina Clausen fired her second consecutive 75 and is tied for 13th. Senior Pia Josefsson bettered her first-round total by two strokes, and is tied for 45th place with a two-day total of 158.

Indiana shot a team score of 288 on the second day of competition to take the team lead by four strokes over host Wake Forest. The Hoosiers were led by Natalie Tucker, who shot a tournament low three-under 69. She is the only golfer to break par on the weekend.

The tournament will conclude with 18 holes being played on Sunday.

MSU, which is coming off a 7-2 victory over No. 49 Auburn at home Friday, is 9-3 on the season with a 3-2 mark in SEC play. The Lady Bulldogs will be looking to reach 10 wins for the first time since 1992. State will also be shooting for its fourth conference win for the first time since 1991.

Arkansas, meanwhile, enters at 3-9 on the year with a 1-4 conference record. The Lady Razorbacks have won just once in their last 10 matches, a 7-2 victory at home over Alabama three weeks ago for their lone conference win.

This will be the ninth meeting between the two schools. Arkansas holds a slim 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. Arkansas slipped past MSU 5-4 last season in Starkville, and the LadyBacks have won the last four meetings.

MSU will be led by junior Amelie Detriviere, the nation's 77th-ranked singles player. Also firing for State will be sophomore Andrea Lord, whose 27 singles wins on the year rank as the most by a Lady Bulldog since Celine Verdier also had 27 singles victories in the 1991-92 season. Only Lisa Pennington had more with 29 during the 1981-82 campaign.

After today's match, MSU will return to Starkville for a four-match SEC homestand. That will get underway March 30 as the Lady Bulldogs host Mississippi at 2:30 p.m.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department

03/25/00
Women's Golf - Christi Sanders' 29th ranked women's golf squad posted a first-round total of 304 at the Bryan National Collegiate here Friday and are currently tied for fourth place in the team competition. Freshman Christina Clausen led the Lady Bulldogs with an opening-round 75.

Clausen, looking for her fourth top-10 finish this season, stands in a tie for eighth place. Junior Lina Thoren and sophomore Anna Gertsson are one stroke behind Clausen after carding four-over-par, 76s. They are tied for 15th place.

Seniors Sue Phillips and Pia Josefsson shot 77 and 80, respectively. Phillips' 77 is her lowest round of the spring season.

Wake Forest, playing on its home course, is leading the team competition by eight strokes. Marta Prieto of Wake is leading the individual competition. She fired an even-par 72 on the opening day.

The tournament will continue Saturday and Sunday, with 18 holes being played each day.

TEAM SCORES INDIVIDUAL SCORES
par 72, 6237 yards par 72, 6237 yards

1. Wake Forest 295
2. New Mexico 303, Ohio State 303
4. MISSISSIPPI STATE 304, North Carolina 304
6. Indiana 305, Florida State 305
8. Penn State 306
9. Vanderbilt 311
10. Kentucky 316
11. UNC-Wilmington 318, Louisville 318
13. UNC-Greensboro 321, Memphis 321
15. Wm. & Mary 324

t8. Christina Clausen 75
t15. Lina Thoren 76
t15. Anna Gertsson 76
t25. Sue Phillips 77
t50. Pia Josefsson 80

State's nine wins matches its win total from a year ago with six regular-season matches remaining. The Lady Bulldogs have also already matched their conference win total from a year ago and are off to their best five-match SEC start since opening 4-1 in 1989.

Auburn gave MSU a tough match despite the lopsided score, and it took Soubis' third-set dominance to assure the victory. After winning the first set 6-3, Soubis led 6-5 in the second set before Simone Jardim forced a tie-breaker. Jardim took the tie breaker 7-5 and went on to win the first game of the third set. However, from there Soubis took control, winning six of the next seven games for a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 win.

Anca Vasiloaica defeated Summa Edwards 6-1, 6-1 in just 43 minutes at No. 6 singles, and Andrea Lord took care of Carolina Maurer 6-2, 6-1 in 62 minutes at No. 5 singles. For Lord, it was singles victory No. 27 on the year, tying her with Celine Verdier for second all-time at MSU. Next on the school list will be Lisa Pennington, who won 20 singles matches in the 1981-82 season.

MSU also posted straight-set singles wins at the four-spot and at the two-spot; however, in both matches Lady Bulldogs had to overcome first- and second-set deficits to win. At No. 2, Ivana Belancic defeated Kate Illarionova 6-4, 6-3. And at No. 4, Claudia Oliveira topped Lucy Altman 6-4, 6-3. Belancic's victory gives her 54 career singles wins, tying her with Laura Strickland (1982-85) for fifth all-time at MSU.

State's lone defeat in singles was at No. 1, where Tiger Andrea Piski upset 77th-ranked Amelie Detriviere in a 2-hour, 19-minute, see-saw, three-set battle. After dropping the opening set 6-4, Detriviere bounced back with a 6-2 win of set two. But Piski gained the momentum early in the third set and took the match 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

In doubles, MSU was victorious at No. 1 as Eimear Sloan joined Soubis to defeat Piski and Illarionova 8-5. Auburn took the No. 2 doubles match, though, as Altman and Jardim bounced Lord and Vasiloaica 8-6. The loss stopped a four-match winning streak for the MSU duo. The Tigers defaulted at No. 3 doubles.

Mississippi State will return to action Sunday, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for a 1 p.m. match against the LadyBacks of Arkansas.

No. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, No. 49 AUBURN 2
Starkville, Miss. -- March 24, 2000

SINGLES -- Andrea Piski (AU) def. #77 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Kate Illarionova (AU) 6-4, 6-3; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Simone Jardim (AU) 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Lucy Altman (AU) 6-4, 6-3; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Carolina Maurer (AU) 6-2, 6-1; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Summa Edwards (AU) 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- Eimear Sloan/Soubis (MSU) def. Illarionova/Piski (AU) 8-5; Altman/Jardim (AU) def. Lord/Vasiloaica (MSU) 8-6; Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) def. Edwards/Maurer (AU) def.

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

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department

03/24/00
Michael Trailov (men's golf) and Pia Josefsson (women's golf) have been chosen as recipients of a Southeastern Conference Post-graduate scholarship and are finalists for the 1999-2000 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

Josefsson, a native of Knivsta, Sweden, has a 3.68 GPA in communication. A two-time all-SEC selection, she has been named team MVP following each of her first three seasons. Last fall she recorded two first place finishes leading the Lady Bulldogs to three consecutive team titles. She has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice.

Trailov, a native of Franklin, Tenn., boasts a 3.66 GPA in the College of Business and Industry. A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Trailov was named NCAA Academic all-American following last season. He will receive his bachelor's degree in May in banking and finance.

The Bulldogs, who finished fifth at last weekend's Alabama Spring Invitational, are one of seven teams from the Southeastern Conference ranked in the top 50. Georgia leads all SEC schools at No. 7.

Meanwhile, senior Alex Rocha fell four spots in the individual rankings, dropping from 13th to No. 17. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native finished tied for 13th with an even-par 216 last weekend. However, he posted back-to-back rounds above par for just the third time since his freshman season with a 74 and a 73 following an opening-round 69.

Matt Kuchar of Georgia Tech leads all individuals. Luke Donald of Northwestern and Kuchar's teammate, Bryce Molder, follow in second and third, respectively.

MSU will return to action April 7-9 as the Bulldogs travel to Auburn, Ala., for the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate at Saugahatchee Country Club.

This will be the 27th meeting between the two schools. Auburn holds a 16-10 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1976-77 campaign. MSU has won the last three meetings, including a 6-3 decision last spring on the Plains.

State will be led by junior Amelie Detriviere, who is currently ranked 77th nationally in singles. Detriviere is 8-3 in dual match action and 18-9 on the year. Sophomore Andrea Lord will be gunning for her team-leading 27th singles victory. The Frankfurt, Tenn., native is 26-8 on the year and 9-2 in dual match play. Lord is just three singles wins shy of tying Sue Pennington's single-season school mark of 29.

In doubles, the Lady Bulldogs are paced by the tandem of senior Eimear Sloan and sophomore Carole Soubis. The two are 5-2 on the spring and 13-5 overall. They will be looking to become just the 11th doubles team in school history to post 14 or more victories in one year and the first to do so since Michelle Oldham and Celine Verdier won 19 doubles matches during the 1991-92 season.

Auburn comes to town having lost eight of its last nine matches. However, the Tigers did knock off then-No. 23 Kentucky in Auburn last Friday. That victory propelled AU from 75th to No. 49 in this week's WingspanBank.com Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings.

Friday's match with Auburn begins a string of seven consecutive conference matches for the Lady Bulldogs to close out the regular season. MSU will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., Sunday for a 1 p.m. battle with the 59th-ranked LadyBacks.

Rousey, a 6-0 middle blocker/outside hitter, is a senior at Champaign's Central High School, where she earned first-team Champaign News-Gazette All-State honors in 1998 and 1999. A three-year letter-winner, Rousey earned honorable mention Chicago Tribune All-State Team honors after piling up 470 kills in 1999, the 11th -highest all-time single-season kills total in Illinois volleyball. She concluded her career with 1,058 career kills, 10th-best in state history.

"We are extremely pleased that Jenn has chosen to continue her academic and athletic careers at Mississippi State University," said MSU coach Brenda Bowlin. "She has great athletic ability and comes from an outstanding high school program. Jenn is also an exceptional student and ranks first in her class at Central High School. She will be a tremendous addition to our volleyball program and the MSU student body."

A four-time Big 12 Scholar-Athlete honoree, Rousey has earned three academic letters at CHS and is a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Award Program. The MSU volleyball signee is the daughter of Steve and Sally Rousey.

MSU will be playing in its second tournament in as many weeks. The Lady Bulldogs placed sixth in the Lady Gamecock Classic last weekend. Lina Thoren, who is currently ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in stroke average, finished the tournament with a three-day total of 235. She leads the Lady Bulldogs, averaging 75.39 strokes-per-round.

Joining Thoren in North Carolina will be seniors Pia Josefsson and Sue Phillips. Josefsson recorded her best score of the spring last weekend with a three-day total of 236. Phillips is making her second start of the spring and her third of the year.

Rounding out the line-up for MSU will be sophomore Anna Gertsson and freshman Christina Clausen. Gertsson finished with a 236 last weekend and Clausen has three top-10 finishes on the year.

"I thought we had a very good practice Thursday," Sanders said from North Carolina. "This is a new course and we're getting used to it. It reminds me of Old Waverly, so we feel pretty comfortable."

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic department

03/23/00
Women's Tennis - Mississippi State's men's and women's tennis teams each moved up in the latest WingspanBank.com National Rankings, released Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

MSU's men, who defeated Arkansas and South Carolina during the past week, jumped one spot to 21st in the country.

The Lady Bulldogs, 8-3 after ousting Texas-El Paso 9-0 Saturday, improved two places to No. 22 in the nation.

The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend, travelling to 32nd-ranked Georgia Sunday. The Lady Bulldogs will host 49th-ranked Auburn this Friday, March 24, at 2:30 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

Altherr earned her Bachelor of Arts in physical education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991. As a player, she was a midfielder on the 1987 Tarheels team that captured the national championship with a 1-0 victory over Massachusetts. She has received her "A" coaching license from the USSF and is a recipient of the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with Distinction award.

"Jennie is a highly gifted technical and tactical coach," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "Her in-depth knowledge of the game of soccer and her ability to convey that knowledge will indeed be a tremendous addition to our program. She has the personality and motivation to be a highly successful recruiter. We are very excited to have her here with us."

While with the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) in North Carolina, Altherr served 10 years in various coaching capacities with the club organization. As head coach of the '85 Spartan Red team last season, she led her squad to titles at the 1999 Charlotte Labor Day and 1999 Raleigh Shootout tournaments.

In May of 1996, she was hired as head coach of the varsity soccer team at St. Mary's College and also served as head coach of the St. Mary's High School girls' soccer team. After a successful two-year stint at St. Mary's, she moved on to St. Timothy's - Hale School and served as head coach of both the varsity girls' soccer and junior varsity girls' basketball teams, while also serving as head of the Physical Education Department.

"I am very excited about being a part of the Mississippi State women's soccer program," Altherr said. "I look forward to the opportunity of helping Coach McGuire build a successful program here."

Rousey, a 6-0 middle blocker/outside hitter, is a senior at Champaign's Central High School, where she earned first-team Champaign News-Gazette All-State honors in 1998 and 1999. A three-year letter-winner, Rousey earned honorable mention Chicago Tribune All-State Team honors after piling up 470 kills in 1999, the 11th -highest all-time single-season kills total in Illinois volleyball. She concluded her career with 1,058 career kills, 10th-best in state history.

"We are extremely pleased that Jenn has chosen to continue her academic and athletic careers at Mississippi State University," said MSU coach Brenda Bowlin. "She has great athletic ability and comes from an outstanding high school program. Jenn is also an exceptional student and ranks first in her class at Central High School. She will be a tremendous addition to our volleyball program and the MSU student body."

A four-time Big 12 Scholar-Athlete honoree, Rousey has earned three academic letters at CHS and is a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Award Program. The MSU volleyball signee is the daughter of Steve and Sally Rousey.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

03/22/00
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State men's tennis standout Jeremy Bayon has been named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of March 21 based on his performance over the last week of play, as released by the SEC office Tuesday.

Bayon, MSU's lone senior, went undefeated in singles and doubles during the past week to help the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs to victories at Arkansas (5-2) and over South Carolina (4-1) at home.

The St. Etienne, France, native, ranked 96th nationally, posted two straight-set, upset victories in singles during the week, downing Arkansas' 88th-ranked Henrik Tofft 6-3, 6-1 and South Carolina's 40th-ranked Guillaume Legat 7-5, 6-3. Both of those wins gave MSU the momentum in those matches, putting the Bulldogs up 2-0 at Arkansas and 2-1 against South Carolina. He also teamed with partner Rene-Charles Combette for 8-4 and 8-5 wins in doubles and now stands 7-2 in singles and 8-1 in doubles for the season.

Bayon, a two-time Academic all-SEC selection, currently holds 81-47 singles and 74-46 doubles records during his four-year MSU career. That includes outstanding 56-20 singles and 49-29 doubles records in dual match competition. Dating back to last season, Bayon has won 17 of 20 singles matches in team competition.

"We are extremely proud of Jeremy for this honor," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "He is one of the most deserving players because he is a true team leader. He puts it on the line for our team every time out and it shows in his results."

Bayon and the Bulldogs (6-3, 2-2 SEC) will be back on the road for their next two matches, travelling to 29th-ranked Georgia this Sunday, March 26, and seventh-ranked Tennessee next Thursday, March 30.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

03/20/00
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State's 22nd-ranked men's tennis team overcame losing the doubles point to post four straight-set wins and down a tough 57th-ranked South Carolina squad Sunday. The match started outside, but was soon moved indoors to MSU's McCarthy Gym due inclement weather.

With the win, State improved to 6-3 overall, 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play. South Carolina fell to 4-6, 0-4. The victory marked State's 10th over USC in 12 all-time meetings.

Both teams were ailing in the match, each missing one of its best players. State's sixth-ranked Marco Baron sat out with an illness, while 83rd-ranked Gamecock Jerome Jourdon missed his third-straight match with an ankle injury.

South Carolina applied pressure on the Bulldogs early, taking wins at the No. 1 and 3 positions. Bulldogs Jeremy Bayon and René-Charles Combette improved to 8-1 on the year with an 8-5 win at No. 2.

But State would respond solidly to the challenge in singles, winning the first four matches completed for the victory. Giving MSU a 2-1 lead were Jerome Le Belicard and Bayon, each who posted upset wins at the top two positions.

The 79th-ranked Le Belicard, a true freshman, fought off USC's 58th-ranked Robert Steckley 6-3, 7-5 at the No. 1 spot. Bayon avenged last year's loss to 40th-ranked Gamecock Guillaume Legat at No. 2, besting him 7-5, 6-3.

Putting MSU up 3-1 was Combette, another rising rookie for the Bulldogs. The Corsica, France, product ousted Juan Gamboa 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 to remain perfect (8-0) in singles this season. Combined with his doubles win, Combette is now 16-1 in all dual matches as a Bulldog.

Clinching the win for MSU was true freshman Charles Sevigny, who downed USC's Seth Rose 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5.

MSU's David Ruiz led 6-3, 3-6, 2-1 over Gamecock Marc Pichler at No. 4 when the match was suspended. The contest at the No. 6 position was never started.

"This was a very big win for us, particularly considering how everyone had to step up with Marco out," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We had some very good matches today to come back and win this match the way we did. South Carolina is a talented team."

Jackson, in his 12th season with the Bulldogs, reached another milestone Sunday, winning his 200th match as head coach of MSU's men (now 200-90). He is 267-135 during his career, which includes his 67-45 record with the Lady Bulldogs from 1985-89.

State will be back on the road for its next two matches, travelling to 29th-ranked Georgia next Sunday, March 26, and seventh-ranked Tennessee on Thursday, March 30.

#22 MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, #57 SOUTH CAROLINA 1

DOUBLES -- Marc Pichler/Robert Steckley (USC) def. Jerome Le Belicard/Charles Sevigny (MSU) 8-6; Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Olof Akesson/Guillaume Legat (USC) 8-5; Juan Gamboa/David Nelson (USC) def. Chris McDonald/Mathieu Soto (MSU) 8-4.

SINGLES-- t#79 Le Belicard (MSU) def. #58 Steckley (USC) 6-3, 7-5; #96 Bayon (MSU) def. t#40 Legat (USC) 7-5, 6-3; Combette (MSU) def. Gamboa (USC) 6-3, 6-0; David Ruiz (MSU) vs. Marc Pichler (USC) - suspended; Sevigny (MSU) def. Seth Rose (USC) 6-2, 6-3; Soto (MSU) vs. Akesson (USC) - did not play.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

MSU entered the final round in eighth place after leading through one round. The Bulldogs fired a 296 Sunday, finishing the weekend at 6-over 870. Only nine of the 18 teams in the field shot below 300 in the final round. Only tournament champion Auburn was below par, turning in a 1-under 287 to capture the team title at 14-under 850.

Middle Tennessee finished a distant second as the only other team under par for the weekend at 862 (-2). Alabama-Birmingham took third at 1-over 265, followed by Georgia State (869) and MSU. The field's highest-ranked team, No. 11 North Florida, finished ninth at 877.

The poor weather conditions also took their toll on Bulldog Alex Rocha, the nation's 13th-ranked player. Having shot at or below par in 21 of his first 24 rounds on the year, Rocha fired a 2-over 74 in Saturday's second round and followed that with a 1-over 73 Sunday. He finished the weekend tied with six others, including teammate Codie Mudd, at even-par 216.

It marked just the second time since his freshman season that Rocha stayed above par for two consecutive rounds. For Mudd, however, the weekend proved to be his best as a Bulldog. Prior to this weekend, Mudd had never finished better than a 61st-place tie at last fall's G. Gunby Jordan Invitational. His 234 at the Jordan was also his career-low, three-round total prior to this weekend's 216.

Andy Kampen, who was in third place after the first round, and Scott Shelton both finished the weekend at 3-over 219 and matched Francois Nicolas of Southeastern Louisiana in 26th place. Michael Trailov tied five others in 75th with a 233.

Roland Thatcher of Auburn took the individual title in fine fashion, firing rounds of 69, 68 and 68 for an 11-under 205. Jon Bartlett of Mississippi, Jeremy Wilkinson of Louisiana State and Matt McWilliams of Middle Tennessee shared second-place honors at 7-under 209. Just 12 of the field's 94 golfers finished the weekend under par.

Mississippi State will return to action in three weeks, April 7-9, when the Bulldogs travel to Auburn, Ala., for the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate at Saugahatchee Country Club. That will be MSU's final tune up for the Southeastern Conference Championships, held April 21-23.

RESULTS FROM THE ALABAMA SPRING INVITATIONAL
Montgomery, Ala. -- March 19, 2000
Par 72 -- 6,773 yards

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Auburn 282-281-297=850
2. Middle Tennessee 281-287-294=862
3. Alabama-Birmingham 285-285-295=865
4. Georgia State 284-288-297=869
5. Mississippi State 276-298-296=870
6. Mississippi 282-287-302=871
7. Louisiana State 288-285-299=872
8. Southeastern La. 290-289-295=874
9. North Florida 288-292-297=877
Vanderbilt 277-297-303=877
11. South Florida 292-292-301=885
12. South Alabama 289-303-301=893
Memphis 286-305-302=893
14. Troy State 286-303-305=894
15. Central Florida 298-305-299=902
16. Alabama 294-308-310=912
17. Southern Mississippi 305-296-317=918
18. Alabama (White) 307-305-319=931

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
t13. Codie Mudd 70-72-74=216 (E)
t13. Alex Rocha 69-74-73=216 (E)
t26. Andy Kampen 67-76-76=219 (+3)
t26. Scott Shelton 70-76-73=219 (+3)
t75. Michael Trailov 75-82-76=233 (+17)

MSU's Christina Clausen, who had been in the top 10 all weekend, faltered Sunday with an 12-over 84. That left her in a tie for 30th with Samantha White of Florida at 238. Lina Thoren led all Lady Bulldogs with a 235 on the weekend to tie for 21st.

Pia Josefsson turned in a 78 in the final round to wrap up the weekend at 236. That was good enough to match Apryl Arrants of South Carolina in 23rd position. Anna Gertsson's final round of 77 put her one stroke back at 237, tying four others in 25th. Renata Almeida rounded out the Lady Bulldog field with a 254 to tie for 57th.

Second-ranked Duke won the team title at 900. It was the third consecutive Lady Gamecock Classic championship for the Blue Devils. Louisiana State finished second at 919, while South Carolina came in third at 937.

Lissette Lee of Louisiana State pulled away from Kalen Anderson of Duke with a 75 in the final 18 to win the individual title. Lee posted a three-round score of 4-over 220, two strokes better than Tennessee's Young-A Yang and three strokes better than Anderson.

Mississippi State will return to action next weekend as the Lady Bulldogs travel to Greensboro, N.C., for the Bryan National Collegiate.

RESULTS FROM THE LADY GAMECOCK CLASSIC
Blythewood, S.C. -- March 19, 2000
Par 72 -- 5,996 yards

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Duke 309-292-299=900
2. Louisiana State 310-305-304=919
3. South Carolina 317-320-300=937
4. Florida 318-310-311=939
5. Tennessee 312-314-317=943
6. Mississippi State 319-310-317=946
7. North Carolina 313-323-313=949
8. Alabama 317-321-318=956
9. Arkansas 323-322-313=958
10. Furman 328-330-304=962
11. Texas A&M 325-324-320=969

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
t21. Lina Thoren 79-78-78=235 (+19)
t23. Pia Josefsson 79-79-78=236 (+20)
t25. Anna Gertsson 83-77-77=237 (+21)
t30. Christina Clausen 78-76-84=238 (+22)
t57. Renata Almeida 85-83-86=254 (+38)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

03/19/00
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State¹s 22nd-ranked men¹s tennis team will return home Sunday for the first time in nearly a month to host 57th-ranked South Carolina.

Match time has been moved up 30 minutes from its originally scheduled time of 1 p.m. and will now begin at 12:30 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. In case of inclement weather, the contest will be moved indoors to MSU¹s McCarthy Gymnasium.

State will bring a 5-3, 1-2 SEC record into the match after a 5-2 win at Arkansas Friday. South Carolina is 4-5 overall, 0-3 in the SEC after falling 5-2 at Florida Friday.

MSU owns a 9-2 series lead over the Gamecocks, but USC won the last two meetings in Columbia and in the SEC Championship last spring.

"South Carolina is a very dangerous team," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They have a very talented team even though their results may not show it at this point. We know what they are capable of after losing to them twice last year."

Jackson, now in his 12th season with the Bulldog netters, will be looking for his 200th victory as coach of State¹s men¹s team, now standing at 199-90. The Oneida, Kentucky, native holds a career record of 266-135, which includes his 67-45 record in five years (1985-89) with the Lady Bulldogs.

Following Sunday¹s action, MSU will hit the road again for its next two matches, at No. 29 Georgia next Sunday, March 26, and at No. 7 Tennessee, Thursday, April 30.

Sophomore Andrea Lord clinched the match for MSU with her 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 win over Ana Brnas at the No. 4 spot. That was an historic victory for the Lady Bulldogs as it was their school-record 126th singles victory of the year. The previous mark of 125 was set by the 1985-86 squad.

The win also gives Lord 26 singles victories on the year, tying her with Sue Thompson for third all-time at MSU in single-season singles victories.

Lord was one of two Lady Bulldogs to get stretched to a third set. Ivana Belancic dropped her opener at No. 2 singles, but bounced back for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jana Perkova. Amelie Detriviere, who is ranked 77th nationally, was a 6-4, 6-0 winner at the No. 1 spot over Tanja Magoc.

In No. 3 singles, Carole Soubis needed just 51 minutes to defeat Elizabeth Stone 6-1, 6-0. Linda Mattsson used only 10 minutes more to down Elisa Bjorklund 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 6 spot, while Eimear Sloan wrapped up her 6-2, 6-0 victory over Elena Madjarova at No. 5 singles in just 68 minutes.

Sloan and Soubis combined for an 8-3 win over Magoc and Perkova at the top doubles position. At No. 2 doubles, Lord teamed with Anca Vasiloaica for an 8-0 victory over Bjorklund and Stone. Detriviere and Claudia Oliveira completed the sweep, defeating Brnas and Madjarova 8-4.

MSU will return to action March 24, hosting Southeastern Conference foe and 75th-ranked Auburn at 2:30 p.m.

No. 24 MISSISSIPPI STATE 9, TEXAS-EL PASO 0
Starkville, Miss. -- March 18, 2000

SINGLES -- #77 Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Tanja Magoc (UTEP) 6-4, 6-0; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Jana Perkova (UTEP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Elizabeth Stone (UTEP) 6-1, 6-0; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Ana Brnas (UTEP) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Elena Madjarova (UTEP) 6-2, 6-0; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Elisa Bjorklund (UTEP) 6-2, 6-0.

DOUBLES -- Sloan/Soubis (MSU) def. Magoc/Perkova (UTEP) 8-3; Lord/Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Bjorklund/Stone (UTEP) 8-0; Detriviere/Claudia Oliveira (UTEP) 8-4.

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

Christina Clausen led the way for the Lady Bulldogs with a 4-over 76 in the second round. She is now tied with four others in ninth position with a two-round score of 154.

Lina Thoren is all by herself in 20th place at 157, while Pia Josefsson and three others are one stroke back in 21st. Anna Gertsson is at 160, tied with three others in 28th position. The MSU field is rounded out by Renata Almeida, whose 168 is tied with two others at 49th.

Second-ranked Duke took control of the event with a 292 in the second round and sit at 601. The Blue Devils stretched what was a one-stroke lead after the first round to a 14-stroke lead heading into the final round. Louisiana State is a distant second at 615. Tennessee is third at 626, followed by Florida at 628 and MSU at 629.

Kalen Anderson of Duke and Lisette Lee of LSU are tied atop the leaderboard at 1-over 145. Yong-A Yang is close behind in third with a 3-over 147. Duke has four of the field's top eight scorers, and the fifth Devil is tied for 17th.

Play will conclude here Sunday with the event's final 18 holes.

RESULTS FROM THE LADY GAMECOCK CLASSIC
Blythewood, S.C. -- March 18, 2000
Par 72 -- 5,996 yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Duke 309-292=601
2. Louisiana State 310-305=615
3. Tennessee 312-314=626
4. Florida 318-310=628
5. Mississippi State 319-310=629
6. North Carolina 313-323=636
7. South Carolina 317-320=637
8. Alabama 317-321=638
9. Arkansas 323-322=645
10. Texas A&M 325-324=649
11. Furman 328-330=658

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
t9. Christina Clausen 78-76=154 (+10)
20. Lina Thoren 79-78=157 (+13)
t21. Pia Josefsson 79-79=158 (+14)
t28. Anna Gertsson 83-77=160 (+16)
t49. Renata Almeida 85-83=168 (+24)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU sports media relations department

03/17/00 (11:10 p.m.)
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State's 22nd-ranked men's tennis team staved off a furious charge from 58th-ranked Arkansas Friday, securing a 5-2 win over the Razorbacks on the road in a match that featured four three-set contests and two tiebreakers. The match was played indoors due to inclement weather.

With the win, State improved to 5-3 overall, 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Arkansas fell to 4-7, 2-4. The victory marked State's ninth-straight over UA since it joined the SEC in 1992.

MSU claimed the opening point of the day with wins at the No. 1 and 3 doubles positions, giving State the opening doubles point for the sixth time in eight matches this year. MSU's 16th-ranked team of Marco Baron and Charles Sevigny won 8-6 at No. 1 over Razorbacks Oskar Johansson and Henrik Tofft, while at No. 3 Bulldogs Jeremy Bayon and Rene-Charles Combette won 8-4 over UA's team of Bradlee Berry and Chris Campbell. Both MSU tandems improved to 7-1 in doubles dual matches this spring.

In singles, MSU took an early 2-0 when the senior Bayon, ranked 96th, ousted 88th-ranked Razorback Tofft 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 2 position.

But the Razorbacks charged back to tie the match at 2-2 behind two three-set victories at the No. 1 and 4 spots. At No. 1, Johansson, ranked eighth nationally, outlasted State's Baron, ranked sixth, for a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory. At No. 4, UA's Aleksey Bubis held off MSU's David Ruiz 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

It would then take tight three-set wins from two of State's true freshmen to clinch the match. MSU went up 3-2 when rookie Jerome Le Belicard, ranked 79th, downed Razorback Magnus Kullenberg 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at the No. 3 position. Later, Combette would clinch the match for the Bulldogs, besting UA's Tiago Acevedo 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 at No. 5. With that triumph, Combette remained perfect (7-0) this spring in dual match singles play.

After the match's outcome had been finalized, State junior Mathieu Soto, playing for the first time this season, won 7-6(9), 6-2 at the No. 6 spot over Eduardo Pacheco.

"It wasn't easy, but we did what we had to do to get a big win on the road today," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "I said going into the match that Arkansas would be tough for us and they proved that in every respect. This match is very big in terms of confidence for our players."

State now returns home on Sunday to host South Carolina. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

#22 MISSISSIPPI STATE 5, #58 ARKANSAS 2

DOUBLES--#16 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. Oskar Johansson/Henrik Tofft (UA) 8-6; Aleksey Bubis/Eduardo Pacheco (UA) def. Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) 8-6; Jeremy Bayon/RenÇ-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Bradlee Berry/Campbell (UA) 8-4.

SINGLES--#8 Johansson (UA) def. #6 Baron (MSU) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5; #96 Bayon (MSU) def. #88 Tofft (UA) 6-3, 6-1; t#79 Le Belicard (MSU) def. Magnus Kullenberg (UA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Bubis (UA) def. Ruiz (MSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Combette (MSU) def. Tiago Azevedo (UA) 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4; Mathieu Soto (MSU) def. Pacheco (UA) 7-6(9), 6-2.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

The Bulldogs posted a 12-under 276 to take the first-round lead, one stroke better than Vanderbilt. State's 276 ranks as the fourth-best team round total in school history. It is also the second-lowest opening 18 holes ever by a Bulldog team. Only the 275 the Bulldogs shot at last month's Gator Invitational was lower.

Andy Kampen fired a career-low tying 4-under 67 to lead the Bulldogs; he is in third place two strokes behind Matt McWilliams of Middle Tennessee. The 67, Kampen's career-low first round total, matched the 67 he shot in the third round of the Gator Invitational last year. Kampen fired a 31 on the back nine, matching teammate Alex Rocha for the lowest nine holes of the day.

Rocha, meanwhile, faltered on the back nine with a 38. His 18-hole total of 69 is still his 12th sub-70 round of the year and puts the nation's 13th ranked player in an eight-way tie for sixth.

Also in contention for MSU are Scott Shelton and Codie Mudd. Both fired season-low 70s in the first round and are tied with seven others in 14th position. For Mudd, it was a career-best round, easily bettering his previous career low of 77. Michael Trailov rounded out the State squad, firing a 3-over 75.

Middle Tennessee is third with a 7-under 281 on the par 72 course. Auburn and Mississippi are knotted at 282 in fifth place. No. 11 North Florida, that field's top-ranked team, is a distant 10th along with Louisiana State after posting an even par 288.

Play will continue here Saturday with the second round, while the final 18 will be played Sunday.

RESULTS FROM THE ALABAMA SPRING INVITATIONAL
Lagoon Park Golf Course -- Montgomery, Ala. -- March 17, 2000
Par 72 -- 6,413 yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Mississippi State 276
2. Vanderbilt 277
3. Middle Tennessee 281
4. Auburn 282
Mississippi 282
6. Georgia State 284
7. Alabama-Birmingham 285
8. Memphis 286
Troy State 286
10. North Florida 288
Louisiana State 288
12. South Alabama 289
13. Southeastern Louisiana 290
14. South Florida 292
15. Alabama 294
16. Central Florida 298
17. Southern Mississippi 305
18. Alabama White 307

MSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
3. Andy Kampen 67 (-5)
t6. Alex Rocha 69 (-3)
t14. Scott Shelton 70 (-2)
t14. Codie Mudd 70 (-2)
t63. Michael Trailov 75 (+3)

Second-ranked Duke leads the field of 11 teams with a 21-over 309. No. 11 Louisiana State is only one stroke behind at 310, while Tennessee is third at 312. MSU is only two strokes out of fifth, where 13th-ranked South Carolina and Alabama are knotted at 317. Florida is just ahead of the Lady Bulldogs at 318.

Christina Clausen leads the State contingency with a 6-over 78. She is tied with three others in 12th place. Lina Thoren and Pia Josefsson are both one stroke back at 79 along with eight others. Anna Gertsson's 83 places her in a four-way tie for 46th, while Renata Almeida is tied for 55th at 85.

Marcy Newton of North Carolina and Lisette Lee of Louisiana State are tied atop the leaderboard after posting 1-over 73s. Young-A Yang of Tennessee and Duke's Kalen Anderson are tied for third one stroke back.

Play will continue here Saturday with the second round. The final 18 holes will be played Sunday.

RESULTS FROM THE LADY GAMECOCK CLASSIC
The University Club -- Blythewood, S.C. -- March 17, 2000
Par 72 -- 5,996 yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Duke 309 (+21)
2. Louisiana State 310 (+22)
3. Tennessee 312 (+24)
4. North Carolina 313 (+25)
5. Alabama 317 (+29)
South Carolina 317 (+29)
7. Florida 318 (+30)
8. Mississippi State 319 (+31)
9. Arkansas 323 (+35)
10. Texas A&M 325 (+37)
11. Furman 328 (+40)

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
t12. Christina Clausen 78 (+6)
t16. Pia Josefsson 79 (+7)
Lina Thoren 79 (+7)
t46. Anna Gertsson 83 (+11)
t55. Renata Almeida 85 (+13)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/16/00 (1:15 p.m.)
Men's Golf - Mississippi State's 40th-ranked men's golf team will return to action here this weekend at the University of Alabama Spring Invitational. The three-day, 54-hole event will be played at Lagoon Park Golf Course in the state's capital city.

This will be MSU's 21st appearance in the Alabama Spring Invitational, which was known as the Southeastern Intercollegiate until 1996. State's best finish in the event came three years ago when the Bulldogs captured the 1997 team title. Bulldog Michael Connell won the individual crown that year with an 8-under 208. Last season, MSU finished third with then-senior Richard Barbles tying for third.

A total of 18 teams will make up the field for this year's tournament. Along with MSU and host Alabama, the Southeastern Conference will be represented by No. 29 Auburn, No. 39 Mississippi, 50th-ranked Louisiana State and Vanderbilt.

No. 11 North Florida, 32nd-ranked Alabama-Birmingham and No. 35 Georgia State give the event seven nationally ranked teams. South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, South Florida, Central Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, Memphis, Troy State and Middle Tennessee round out the field.

The Bulldogs will be led by All-America candidate Alex Rocha, who leads the SEC with a 70.04 scoring average. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native is ranked 13th nationally after posting his third individual title of the year last week at the Seminole Classic. Last season, Rocha tied for 14th at the event with an even-par 216.

Action will get underway Friday morning with the first 18 holes. The second round will be played Saturday with the final round Sunday.

Freshman Christina Clausen, who tied for 12th at the Lady Gator Invitational to open the spring season, will play in the No. 1 position for the Lady Bulldogs. Junior Lina Thoren will play in the No. 2 spot. She is currently second in the SEC standings with a 74.80 stroke average. Sophomore Anna Gertsson, eighth in the SEC, will be seeded third.

Rounding out the starting line-up for MSU are senior Pia Josefsson and junior Renata Almeida. Josefsson is one of just two SEC golfers to claim more than one individual title this season. She won the Memphis Women's Intercollegiate to open the fall and tied for first at the Lady Seminole Invitational later in the fall season. Almeida will be making her first appearance for the Lady Bulldogs this season. She started seven tournaments during the 1998-99 season and finished with an 81.22 stroke average.

"We're ready to get back on the road again after two weeks off, " Head Coach Christi Sanders said. "I think we're playing better right now than we have been and we're ready for competition."

The Lady Gamecock Classic marks the beginning of a stretch in which the Lady Bulldogs will play three tournaments in 18 days to round out the regular season before the SEC Championships April 21-23.

State will take a 4-3, 0-2 SEC record into the match after 5-2 setbacks at No. 4 Florida and No. 6 LSU in the last two weeks. Arkansas is 4-6 overall, 2-3 in the SEC.

MSU owns an 11-4 series lead over the Razorbacks since 1969 and has won all eight meetings between the schools since UA joined the SEC in 1992.

"Arkansas¹ ranking is a bit deceiving," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "Their top player is in the top 10 nationally and they beat a good Alabama team 4-1. We will have to be ready for this match."

Following Friday¹s action, MSU will returns home to the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre Sunday for the first time since Feb. 27 to host South Carolina. Match time is set for 1 p.m.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

(If you are in or around Starkville this Sunday come on out and watch our tennis team play. They are very, very good. - Gene)

03/16/00
Men's tennis - Mississippi State's men's tennis team (4-3) is ranked 22nd nationally in the latest WingspanBank.com national rankings, released Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Wednesday's poll was the first of the 1999-2000 season based on the ITA's computer points system, instead of vote by the ITA Ranking Committee.

All three of State's losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the top 11 in the country and all have come away from home.

"We are about where I expected us to be, given our results," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We have won four matches convincingly over talented teams and we have lost three matches to three of the nation's best teams this year away from home, all of which we had chances to win. We are continuing to work hard and we are getting better each day."

Individually, MSU had three singles players and a doubles team among the nation's best in Wednesday's rankings.

In singles, junior all-American Marco Baron jumped six spots to No. 6 in the country, the highest ranking of his MSU career. The Nantes, France, native is 18-5 overall this season. True freshman Jerome Le Belicard came in in a tie for 79th in the country, while senior Jeremy Bayon stayed at 96th.

In doubles, Baron and partner Charles Sevigny, 15-4 overall as a tandem this year, were 16th in Wednesday's poll.

The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend with a pair of Southeastern Conference contests. MSU will travel to 58th-ranked Arkansas on Friday before returning home to host No. 57 South Carolina Sunday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

All 12 SEC schools are ranked in the top 76, eight in the top 25. Georgia leads the way at No. 3, followed by Florida at No. 6. Vanderbilt, which edged MSU 6-3 in Nashville two weeks ago, is 12th, while Mississippi is 16th. South Carolina is ranked No. 19, followed by No. 20 Tennessee. Kentucky is just ahead of State at No. 23. Stanford carries the nation's top ranking.

Individually, junior Amelie Detriviere returned to the top 100 after a two-week hiatus. The Bressuire, France, native is ranked 77th nationally. State's doubles tandem of Eimear Sloan and Carole Soubis dropped out of the top 50 after being ranked No. 43 two weeks ago.

MSU will return to action this weekend as the Lady Bulldogs host Texas-El Paso at 1 p.m. Saturday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. This will be the final non-conference match of the regular season for State.

This marks the first ranking for the Bulldogs since opening the fall season ranked 21st nationally. MSU finished second at last week's Seminole Classic hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.

In the individual rankings, senior Alex Rocha stayed put at No. 13 despite winning the Seminole Classic. It was the third title of the year for Rocha, who leads the Southeastern Conference with a 70.04 stroke average. His six top-10 finishes also lead the conference and no other player has finished in the top 10 more than three times.

Georgia Tech remained the nation's top-ranked team, followed by Clemson, Northwestern, Arizona State and Oklahoma State. Georgia, Fresno State, Brigham Young, Houston and Nevada-Las Vegas round out the top 10.

State is one of eight SEC teams ranked in the top 50. After Georgia, South Carolina comes in at No. 15, Florida at No. 18, Auburn is 29th, Tennessee is 31st, Mississippi is ranked No. 42 and Louisiana State is 50th.

Despite being ranked second in the SEC, Georgia's Nick Cassini is ranked ahead of Rocha in the CGF rankings at No. 9. Matt Kuchar of Georgia Tech is the nation's top-ranked golfer, followed by Luke McDonald of Northwestern and fellow Yellowjacket Bryce Molder.

Mississippi State will return to action this weekend as the Bulldogs travel to Montgomery, Ala., for the three-day, 54-hole Alabama Spring Invitational at Lagoon Park Golf Course.

The single-day meet matches MSU with fellow SEC foes Georgia, Louisiana State and host Alabama at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.

Looking for continued success after outstanding indoor seasons are Bulldog senior high jumper Rod Newton and freshman sprinter Pierre Browne, who both competed in last weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Newton broke MSU's indoor record with a 7-3 high jump effort, while Browne ranked as one of only two freshmen competitors in the 200 meters at last week's national meet.

On the women's side, the 4x400-meter relay squad enters the outdoor season on the heels of setting a new school mark in the event with a run of 3:42.94 at the SEC Indoor Championships. Junior Lady Bulldog jumper Elisha Williams will attempt to add to her list of five school records, while sophomore sprinter Camille Harper looks to carry over last year's freshman success when she was named the Lady Bulldogs' team MVP.

Saturday's Alabama-hosted meet is the first on MSU's 10-meet outdoor schedule that includes stops at the prestigious Texas Relays (April 6-8) and Penn Relays (April 27-29). Mississippi State will host three meets in the month of April at the W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox Track, including the Bulldog Invitational (April 1), MSU Invitational (April 15) and Jace Lacoste Invitational (April 22).

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/13/00 (12:45 p.m.)
Men's Golf - Mississippi State senior golfer Alex Rocha was named Southeastern Conference golfer of the week, it was announced Monday by the conference office.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Rocha captured his third individual title of the year and the fourth of his career last Tuesday when he won the Seminole Classic. He posted a 54-hole total of 208, his school-record fourth career tournament at or below 208.

Rocha leads the SEC with a 70.04 stroke average through 23 rounds. Nick Cassini of Georgia is a distant second in scoring average at 70.80. Rocha also leads the conference with three victories and six top 10 finishes. Craig Lile is the only other SEC golfer with more than one victory, and no other golfer in the conference has more than three top 10 finishes.

Mississippi State will return to action this weekend, traveling to Montgomery, Ala., for the University of Alabama Spring Invitational. The three-day, 54-hole event will begin Friday at Lagoon Park Golf Course.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/08/00 (9:45 p.m.)
Men's Tennis - Mississippi State's 16th-ranked men's tennis team dropped another close road match Wednesday, falling to sixth-ranked LSU 5-2.

With the loss, State fell to 4-3 overall, 0-2 in Southeastern Conference play. LSU, which opened conference action, is now 7-1.

The opening point of the day went to LSU in a very tight fight for the doubles point, which the Tigers won for a school-record 20th straight time. MSU's 17th-ranked team of Marco Baron and Charles Sevigny took the first match off court, defeating Tigers Michael Chmela and Daniel Kiernan 8-5, the first loss ever for the LSU duo in 13 dual matches together. LSU evened things with an 8-4 win from Ajay Ramaswami and Jesse Smatt at No. 3 over previously undefeated Bulldogs Jeremy Bayon and Rene-Charles Combette.

A tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles would decide things. Bulldogs Jerome Le Belicard and David Ruiz gained an early 4-0 lead in the breaker, but the Tiger tandem of Tom Hand and Ed Rubin fought back to take it 9-7 and the set 9-8(7) to give LSU the first point of the day.

In singles, MSU evened thing when Combette ousted Ramaswami 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 6 position, as the true freshman Bulldog remained undefeated (6-0) in singles dual matches this spring.

About 20 minutes later, LSU went up 3-1 with straight-set wins at the No. 3 and 4 positions. Kiernan downed Ruiz in a close 6-4, 6-4 contest at No. 3. Rubin then upset MSU's 76th-ranked Le Belicard 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. LSU clinched the match when Smatt came back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Sevigny at the No. 6 spot.

After the clinching point, Chmela, ranked 27th nationally, defaulted his match at No. 1 against Baron, ranked 12th. Chmela led 7-6(7), 3-4 when he retired. In the last match of the day, LSU's 21st-ranked Hand held off a comeback try from 96th-ranked Bulldog Bayon at No. 2, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

"We just have to keep fighting," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We have been so close in all three of our losses this season, all to top 10 teams away from home.

"We lost a close doubles point today which would have given us a lot of momentum going into singles. But our guys our learning with every match and the key for us is to understand that we are getting better with every match and have been playing some of the best teams in the country close on their home courts."

State now has nine days off before its next competition. State will continue SEC play Friday, March 17, staying on the road to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on 47th-ranked Arkansas. MSU will return home on Sunday, March 19, to host No. 25 South Carolina.

#6 LSU 5, #16 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2

DOUBLES--#17 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. Michael Chmela/Daniel Kiernan (LSU) 8-5; Tom Hand/Ed Rubin (LSU) def. Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) 9-8(7); Ajay Ramaswami/Jesse Smatt (LSU) def. Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) 8-4.

SINGLES--#12 Baron (MSU) def. #27 Chmela (LSU) 6-7(7), 4-3, def.; #21 Hand (LSU) def. #96 Bayon (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Kiernan (LSU) def. Ruiz (MSU) 6-4, 6-4; Rubin (LSU) def. #76 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-3, 6-2; Smatt (LSU) def. Sevigny (MSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0; Combette (MSU) def. Ramaswami (LSU) 6-4, 6-1.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Women's Tennis - No. 25 Mississippi State dropped a 6-0 decision to fifth-ranked Florida on the road Wednesday in Southeastern Conference women's tennis action. With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs fall to 7-3 on the season and 2-2 in SEC play. Florida, meanwhile, improves to 8-1 and 4-0.

Junior Amelie Detriviere was able to get the most games off a Lady Gator, but still fell in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. The match was clinched by Florida when 34th-ranked Traci Green defeated Andrea Lord 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 singles.

In other singles action, 31st-ranked Jessica Lehnoff defeated Ivana Belancic 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2. Stephanie Hazlett downed Carole Soubis in No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-1. No. 35 Baili Camino topped Claudia Oliveira at the No. 5 spot 6-0, 6-3, and at No. 6 singles, Julia Scaringe, who is tied for 77th nationally, defeated Anca Vasiloaica 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles action was suspended. Florida made it 18 of 18 in the all-time series with the victory. The Lady Gators became the first team to blank MSU this season.

MSU will enjoy a 10-day layoff before hosting Texas-Pan American March 18 at 1 p.m.

No. 5 FLORIDA 6, No. 25 MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
Gainesville, Fla. -- March 8, 2000

SINGLES -- Whitney Laiho (UF) def. Amelie Detriviere (MSU) 6-3, 6-4; #31 Jessica Lehnhoff (UF) def. Ivana Belancic (MSU) 6-3, 6-2; Stephanie Hazlett (UF) def. Carole Soubis 6-2, 6-1; #34 Traci Green (UF) def. Andrea Lord (MSU) 6-2, 6-1; #35 Baili Camino (UF) def. Claudia Oliveira (MSU) 6-0, 6-3; #t77 Julia Scaringe (UF) def. Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- did not play.

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

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/08/00
Men's Golf - Mississippi State senior Alex Rocha fired a 3-under 69 here Tuesday in the final round of the Seminole Classic at Killearn Country Club to capture the event's individual title. The Bulldogs as a team finished second with a 2-under 862, nine strokes back of team champion North Florida.

It was the third individual title of the 1999-2000 season for Rocha, who is currently ranked 11th nationally. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native now owns four career titles. Only Michael Connell, who won six individual titles during his time at MSU, has won more than Rocha.

With a 68 in the first round and a 71 in the second round, Rocha was one shot behind Chris Wisler of East Tennessee State through Monday's first two rounds. His 69 Tuesday gave him a 208 for the Classic and propelled him past Wisler, who shot an even-par 72 and finished season. Rocha extended his school record of four tournaments at 208 or lower.

As a team, the Bulldogs shot a 1-under 287 in the final round and held on to second place. North Florida, which led MSU by one stroke after the first two rounds, posted a 9-under 279 in the final round to run away with the team title. State and UNF were the only two teams in the 15-team field under par for the 54-hole event.

"As a team, this gets us back in the hunt for the regionals, and that's really all we can hope for," MSU head coach Nicky Goetze said. "We had several guys give us three solid rounds of golf. John Mueller really stepped up for us. With three events still to play before the regionals, we have a chance."

State's Andy Kampen finished tied with four others for 12th place, giving MSU two top-20 finishers for the fourth time this year and for the second straight event. Kampen fired a 1-over 73 Tuesday and finished the event at 1-under 215.

Mueller finished tied for 27th, the best finish of his career, with a 4-over 220. Other MSU participants were Michael Trailov, who tied for 34th at 221, and Scott Shelton, whose 227 landed in a three-way tie for 59th.

Vanderbilt and North Carolina State tied for third with 867 team scores. College of Charleston rounded out the top five with an 870. Behind Rocha and Wisler in the individual race was Derrick Centers of Tennessee at 211.

State will return to action March 17-19 at the University of Alabama Spring Invitational held at Lagoon Park Golf Club in Montgomery, Ala.

RESULTS FROM THE SEMINOLE CLASSIC
Tallahassee, Fla. -- March 6, 2000
Par 72 -- 7,013 yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. North Florida 288-286-279=853 (-11)
2. Mississippi State 284-291-287=862 (-2)
3. North Carolina State 287-291-289=867 (+3)
Vanderbilt 294-284-289=867 (+3)
5. College of Charleston 288-293-289=870 (+6)
6. Louisiana State 292-289-290=871 (+7)
7. East Tennessee State 292-291-291=874 (+10)
Tennessee 290-296-291=874 (+10)
9. Central Florida 302-288-295=885 (+21)
10. South Alabama 296-298-295=889 (+25)
11. Florida State 300-295-296=891 (+27)
12. Southeastern Louisiana 295-294-303=892 (+28)
Southern Mississippi 304-291-297=892 (+28)
14. Florida A&M 301-299-301=901 (+37)
15. South Carolina-Aiken 306-298-298=902 (+38)

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1. Alex Rocha 68-71-69=208 (-8)
t12. Andy Kampen 69-73-73=215 (-1)
t27. John Mueller 73-74-73=220 (+4)
t34. Michael Trailov 74-75-72=221 (+5)
t59. Scott Shelton 78-73-76=227 (+11)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/07/00
Women's Tennis - No. 25 Mississippi State bounced back from its first Southeastern Conference loss of the season here Monday with an impressive 8-1 victory over homestanding and 40th-ranked South Florida. With the victory, MSU improves to 7-2 on the season; USF falls to 6-4.

State's win evens the the all-time series at 3-3. South Florida won the last meeting 6-3 two years ago in Tampa.

The Lady Bulldogs swept singles play, which included a pair of three-set victories. Amelie Detriviere edged Genevieve Houle 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot. Ivana Belancic was also stretched at No. 2 singles before pulling out a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 win over Tina Harrison.

At No. 3 singles, Carole Soubis downed Natalie Schwartz 6-0, 6-1. Claudia Oliveira was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Jackie Spicijaric at the No. 4 spot. Andrea Lord, who saw her career-long, 10-match singles winning streak snapped Saturday at Vanderbilt, defeated Ildiko Zubor 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. Anca Vasiloaica closed out singles with her sixth consecutive victory, downing Jamie Larson 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot.

In doubles, MSU's 43rd-ranked tandem of Eimear Sloan and Soubis edged Harrison and Ashlee Callahan 8-5 at No. 1. Lord and Vasiloaica teamed up to defeat Houle and Spicijaric 8-1 in No. 2 doubles. State's lone loss of the day came at No. 3 doubles where Schwartz and Zubor slipped past Detriviere and Oliveira 8-6.

Mississippi State will return to action Wednesday with a 4 p.m. match at No. 4 Florida.

No. 25 MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, No. 40 SOUTH FLORIDA 1
Tampa, Fla. -- March 6, 2000

SINGLES -- Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Genevieve Houle (USF) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Ivana Belancic (MSU) def. Tina Harrison (USF) 7-5, 5-7, 6-2; Carole Soubis (MSU) def. Natalie Schwartz (USF) 6-0, 6-1; Claudia Oliveira (MSU) def. Jackie Spicijaric (USF) 6-4, 7-5; Andrea Lord (MSU) def. Ildiko Zubor (USF) 6-3, 6-3; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Jamie Larson (USF) 6-0, 6-1.

DOUBLES -- #43 Eimear Sloan/Soubis (MSU) def. Ashlee Callahan/Harrison (USF) 8-5; Lord/Vasiloaica (MSU) def. Houle/Spicijaric 8-1. Schwartz/Zubor (USF) def. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) 8-6.

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

Men's Golf -- After a rough outing two weeks ago at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships, Mississippi State and 11th-ranked Alex Rocha rebounded in fine fashion in the first two rounds of the Seminole Classic here Monday at the Killearn Country Club. The Bulldogs and Rocha are both in second place through the first two rounds of play.

MSU fired its third-lowest team round of the year with a 4-under 284, the lowest round on a par 72 course this year for the Bulldogs. That placed State in first place through one round. A 3-over 291 in the second 18 leaves the Bulldogs at 1 under, one stroke behind leader North Florida with Tuesday's final round still to be played. MSU and UNF are the only members of the 15-team field under par.

Rocha, who finished tied for 17th at the Mercedes-Benz, leads the MSU charge with a 5-under 139 through two rounds. The nation's 11th-ranked player fired a 4-under 68 in the opening round and backed that up with a 1-under 71 in round two. Rocha is one stroke behind leader Chris Wisler of East Tennessee State.

However, Rocha is not the only Bulldog making noise. Andy Kampen posted rounds of 69 and 73 and is in a six-way tie for sixth at 2 under. John Mueller shot a 147 two-round total, the lowest of his career, with rounds of 73 and 74. He is tied with five others in 31st place.

Two strokes back at 5-over 149 is Michael Trailov, tied with eight others for 40th. Scott Shelton rounds out the MSU contingency. Shelton finds himself knotted with Matt Ackley of host Florida State and Chris Calvert of Central Florida in 54th position at 151.

The Classic will conclude here Tuesday with the final 18 holes.

RESULTS FROM THE SEMINOLE CLASSIC
Tallahassee, Fla. -- March 6, 2000
Par 72 -- 7,013 yards

TEAM STANDINGS
1. North Florida 288-286=574 (-2)
2. Mississippi State 284-291=575 (-3)
3. North Carolina State 287-291=578 (+2)
Vanderbilt 294-284=578 (+2)
5. College of Charleston 288-293=581 (+5)
Louisiana State 292-289=581 (+5)
7. East Tennessee State 292-291=583 (+7)
8. Tennessee 290-296=586 (+10)
9. Southeastern Louisiana 295-294=589 (+13)
10. Central Florida 302-288=590 (+14)
11. South Alabama 296-298=594 (+18)
12. Southern Mississippi 304-291=595 (+19)
Florida State 300-295=595 (+20)
14. Florida A&M 301-299=600 (+24)
15. South Carolina-Aiken 306-298=604 (+28)

MSU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
2. Alex Rocha 68-71=139 (-5)
t6. Andy Kampen 69-73=142 (-2)
31. John Mueller 73-74=147 (+3)
t40. Michael Trailov 74-75=149 (+5)
t54. Scott Shelton 78-73=151

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/05/00
Women's Tennis - Vanderbilt's sixteenth-ranked women's tennis team swept doubles play Saturday afternoon to secure a 6-3 win over 25th-ranked Mississippi State at VU's Currey Tennis Center.

With the loss, State's women fell for the first time in three Southeastern Conference outings this season, now standing at 6-2 overall, 2-1 in the SEC. Vandy improved to 10-1, 3-0.

Things were all tied up at 3-3 after singles play. Three matches ended in straight sets while the others went three sets in a see-saw singles outing as the teams exchanged wins throughout.

MSU took the opening point of the day when Amelie Detriviere downed Julie Ditty 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 1 position. Vandy answered with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph from 96th-ranked Jenny Miller over Lady Bulldog Andrea Lord at No. 4. The loss broke a 10-match win streak for Lord.

State regained the lead at 2-1 when Eimear Sloan fought back from losing the first set 6-0 to claim an 0-6, 6-1, 6-2 upset of 73rd-ranked Kristy Blumberg at the No. 3 spot. But the Commodores evened things again with a 7-5, 6-4 victory from 94th-ranked Kate Burson over MSU's Claudia Oliveira at No. 5.

MSU went up 3-2 with another upset win at the No. 6 position, where Anca Vasiloaica posted a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback over 84th-ranked Anne Plessinger. VU then gained the final point of singles play, when 63rd-ranked Sarah Riske came back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Ivana Belancic at the No. 2 spot.

With both teams needing two points for the win, Vandy proved its strength in doubles play (boasting two top 30 teams), sweeping all three positions to win the match with 8-2, 8-5 and 8-2 wins.

"This is a tough loss to take," MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. "We fought very hard today to give ourselves a chance to win this match. It was disappointing to lose the way we did in doubles after playing well in singles. But we will learn from being in this position and be ready the next time we are in it."

State will stay on the road for two more matches, one of which will be an SEC affair. The Lady Bulldogs will visit No. 40 South Florida Monday and No. 4 Florida Wednesday.

#16 VANDERBILT 6, #25 MISSISSIPPI STATE 3

SINGLES ­Amelie Detriviere (MSU) def. Julie Ditty (VU) 6-3, 6-2; #63 Sarah Briske (VU) def. Ivana Belancic (MSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0; Eimear Sloan (MSU) def. #73 Kristy Blumberg (VU) 0-6, 6-1, 6-2; #96 Jenny Miller (VU) def. Andrea Lord (MSU) 6-1, 6-2; #94 Kate Burson (VU) def. Claudia Oliveira (MSU) 7-5, 6-4; Anca Vasiloaica (MSU) def. #84 Anne Plessinger (VU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

DOUBLES ­ #12 Blumberg/Burson (VU) def. #43 Sloan/Carole Soubis (MSU) 8-2; #28 Ditty/Riske (VU) def. Belancic/Linda Mattsson (MSU) 8-5; Miller/Plessinger (VU) def. Detriviere/Oliveira (MSU) 8-2.

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletic media relations department

03/02/00 - Mississippi State¹s men's tennis team, 14th in the latest national rankings released Wednesday, dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 4 Florida Wednesday afternoon on the UF campus in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

With the loss, State fell to 4-2 overall on the 2000 season. UF improved to 7-1.

In doubles, the teams split the first two matches off the court, with Florida winning 8-2 at the No. 2 position and State claiming an 8-4 win at No. 3. In the deciding match, MSU's 17th-ranked team of Marco Baron and Charles Sevigny posted an 8-5 victory over Jeff Morrison and Nathan Overholser to hand State the opening point of the day.

In singles, however, it would be a different story as the Gators pounced on the Bulldogs early, winning the first set at every position to set up straight-set wins at the top four positions for the team victory. The Gators took and early 2-1 lead in the match with victories at Nos. 1 and 2, spots where State's players had not lost in some 18 matches combined dating back to the 1999 campaign.

First off the court was 16th-ranked Gator Justin O'Neal, who downed 96th-ranked Bulldog Jeremy Bayon 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2, breaking a 10-match win streak in dual competition for the senior Bulldog. At No. 1, UF's Morrison, the defending NCAA singles champion, ranked seventh nationally, downed Baron, MSU's 12th-ranked all-American, 6-3, 6-1. It was Baron's first dual match loss after eight straight successful outings.

Florida took a 3-1 lead when Overholser defeated Bulldog David Ruiz 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 3 position. About 15 minutes later, Olivier Levant clinched the win for the Gators, holding off MSU's 76th-ranked Jerome Le Belicard 6-2, 7-6(3) at No. 4.

The teams would split the final two matches of the day, both of which State forced to third sets. Bulldog René-Charles Combette remained undefeated on the year in dual play, coming back to defeat Dylan Mann 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. State's Sevigny dropped a very tight 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(5) decision to Gator Troy Hahn at No. 6 to round out scoring on the day.

"Florida is without question one of the most-talented teams in the country this season," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "They clearly showed that today, particularly through their depth in singles.

"But I was pleased with our effort even though the scores may not show it at some positions. Even after we lost at the top positions, our guys at the bottom were still giving everything they had to keep us in the match. We were just a few points away from giving ourselves a chance to win the match."

State will continue SEC play next Wednesday, March 8, staying on the road to Baton Rouge, La., to take on the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at LSU's Dub Robinson Tennis Stadium.

#4 FLORIDA 5, #14 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2

DOUBLES--#17 Marco Baron/Charles Sevigny (MSU) def. Jeff Morrison/Nathan Overholser (UF) 8-5; Dylan Mann/Justin O'Neal (UF) def. Jerome Le Belicard/David Ruiz (MSU) 8-2; Jeremy Bayon/René-Charles Combette (MSU) def. Matt Behrmann/Troy Hahn (UF) 8-4.

SINGLES--#7 Morrison (UF) def. #12 Baron (MSU) 6-3, 6-1; #16 O'Neal (UF) def. #96 Bayon (MSU) 6-0, 6-1; Overholser (UF) def. Ruiz (MSU) 6-2, 6-4; Olivier Levant (UF) def. #76 Le Belicard (MSU) 6-2, 7-6(3); Combette (MSU) def. Mann (UF) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1; Hahn (UF) def. Sevigny (MSU) 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(5).

(numbers preceding names are current national rankings)

State's move to No. 25 marks the Lady Bulldogs first appearance in the top 25 since 1989. MSU is 4-1 against ranked opponents this season and 1-1 against teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Bulldogs are 2-0 in SEC play for the first time since 1992.

Individually, senior Eimear Sloan and Carole Soubis fell to No. 43 from No. 24 in doubles. Junior Amelie Detriviere exited the top 100; Detriviere was ranked 91st in the last rankings.

MSU will return to action this weekend as the Lady Bulldogs travel to 16th-ranked Vanderbilt for an 11 a.m. match Saturday.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Rocha finished the fall season ranked seventh nationally. Wednesday's rankings were the first of the spring season. Rocha leads the Southeastern Conference with a 70.15 stroke average. His round of 63 in the final 18 at last month's Gator Invitational was an MSU record. Rocha also fired a school-record 198 in the three-round event.

Clemson, Northwestern, Oklahoma State and Arizona State round out the top five in the team rankings. The SEC is represented by Georgia at No. 5, South Carolina at No. 13, Florida at No. 17, Auburn at No. 27, Tennessee at No. 32 and Mississippi at No. 42.

Individually, Georgia Tech's Bryce Molder opens the spring in the No. 1 spot, followed by Lucas Glover of Clemson, fellow Yellowjacket Matt Kuchar and defending NCAA champion Luke Donald of Northwestern.

Mississippi State will return to action next Monday and Tuesday at the Seminole Classic in Tallahassee, Fla.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletics media relations department

03/01/00 - Mississippi State's 13th-ranked men's tennis team will open 2000 Southeastern Conference play Wednesday, travelling to meet fourth-ranked Florida in Gainesville. Match time is set for 2 p.m. ET at the Linder Tennis Stadium on the UF campus.

State will take a 4-1 record into the match after a 6-1 win over No. 37 Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday in Starkville. Florida is 6-1 overall and will also be opening conference action.

The Gators own a 19-13 series lead over MSU since 1969, but the Bulldogs are ahead 10-8 since 1989. UF has won three of the last five meetings in Gainesville and triumphed 5-2 at MSU last season. The match between the teams will mark the first since 1992 where State has not been favored over the Gators, based on national ranking.

"Florida has one of the best teams in the country this year without question," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "We will have to play well to get an upset, but it is definitely possible. They have some inexperience on their team as we do."

Following Wednesday's SEC opener, MSU will continue league action next Wednesday, March 8, going on the road to face another top 5 foe, the LSU Tigers, who were the country's top-ranked team as of Tuesday. The new national team rankings will be released Wednesday.

Reprinted with the permission of the MSU athletics media relations department

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