02/28/03
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State's track teams travel to Gainesville, Fla., for the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 2.

The men's team, which held steady at No. 4 in Trackwire.com's latest power rankings, is looking for its highest place in a decade at the conference meet. The Bulldogs finished last year's championships tied for 10th.

The Bulldogs are led by its four-time all-American senior Pierre Browne. The Toronto native holds two school records, including tying State's best 60m mark earlier this season at 6.61.

Also a major part of the MSU's charge is junior Marquis Davis. The owner of the school's indoor 200m record as well as co-holder of the 60m mark, Davis is looking to make another big impact at the conference indoor meet. In 2002, the two-time all-American finished fourth in the 200-meter dash at the SEC Indoors.

Seniors Chris Boldt, Dion Crabbe and Kelvin Harris also will look to make a mark at the meet hosted by the University of Florida. Crabbe, a double all-American outdoors last year, is looking to improve on last year's indoor showing, where he placed eighth in both the 60m and 200m.

Boldt, an NCAA provisional qualifier in the mile, is ready to place in a conference meet for the first time in his career. The Natchez native Harris, another provisional qualifier, also hopes to contend for the conference's 60-meter hurdles title.

On the women's side, the 20th-ranked Lady Bulldogs hope to improve on last season's ninth-place showing at the conference meet.

State's women will be led by sophomore Tiffany McWilliams. The all-SEC cross country runner leads the conference in the mile and hopes to become MSU's first ever female to win an event at the conference meet.

McWilliams also anchors the distance medley relay team, which looks to set another school mark and take home State's first indoor relay title on either side in 25 years.

The SEC Indoor Championships begin Friday with the pentathlon at 12 noon (ET) in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Following Friday's action, the Bulldogs will remain in Tallahassee as part of the three-team Florida State Seminole Challenge. MSU and Pittsburgh (4-4) will open up round-robin tournament play on Saturday at 11 a.m., with the Bulldogs taking on the host Seminoles immediately following.

Sunday's slate will mirror Saturday's as the Bulldogs take on the Panthers at 11 a.m. and Florida State at 1 p.m. Every game in Tallahassee, including Friday evening's game against the Seminoles, can be followed via a live stats link on http://www.MStateAthletics.com.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs, 4-4, are coming off a 5-2 win over No. 59 Middle Tennessee this past Sunday. USC is 7-0 thus far this season, most recently posting victories over No. 63 Furman and South Carolina-Aiken Sunday.

The teams have met 14 times in recorded history, with the Bulldogs holding a 11-3 series lead on the Gamecocks. USC's three victories, however, have come in the last five meetings, including a 4-3 triumph in Columbia last year. The Bulldogs are 5-0 against the Gamecocks in Starkville all-time.

"We are ready to begin our SEC season," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "The conference is very prominent on the national level again this season. South Carolina will be a very tough opening match for us, but one that we are capable of winning if we apply ourselves and focus at every position."

Following Friday's battle, State concludes its current homestand Sunday, welcoming the second-ranked Florida Gators at 1 p.m. UF, which plays at No. 8 Mississippi Friday afternoon, was a finalist at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championship last week in Louisville, Ky.

All of MSU's home tennis matches can be followed live on the internet on State's official web site, http://www.MStateAthletics.com.

Source: MSU Media Relations

One round of golf will be played Friday, Saturday and Sunday with all start times set for 7:30 a.m.

Joe Deraney, Jay Giannetto, Kellen Maurer, Codie Mudd and Tim Satow will be representing the Maroon and White.

The Bulldogs enter the tournament after an 11th-place showing at the Matlock Invitational (297-298-292=887) in Lakeland, Fl., less than two weeks ago.

The 2003 field includes No. 18 College of Charleston, No. 37 Lamar, No. 55 Jacksonville State, No. 62 Arkansas-Little Rock, No. 66 Georgia Southern, No. 75 LSU, No. 79 South Alabama, No. 80 Central Florida, No. 93 Memphis, No. 100 Maryland, Arkansas State, Furman, Louisiana-Lafayette, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Rhode Island, South Florida, Texas-Arlington and Tulane.

State finished in a tie-for-fourth at the 2002 LSU Spring Invitational (287), after the tournament was shortened to one round due to snow flurries and harsh weather conditions. MSU's Codie Mudd was awarded individual co-medalist honors with his 68, four-under par showing along with John Humphries of LSU, Heath West of LSU, Mark Sullivan of Tulane and Andreas Christensson of Oral Roberts. Host LSU took the team title with a nine-under-par 279.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala have the highest doubles winning percentage on the team with .750 (3-1). Leading the team in singles, Anastasia Kugakolova has a 5-3 record and a .625 winning percentage.

Head coach Tracy Lane's Lady Bulldogs enter the match after a 7-0 defeat by the 14th-ranked Jaguars of South Alabama.

State is 1-13 all-time against South Carolina. MSU's only win came in 1989 when the Lady Bulldogs took a 5-3 victory. Last season, USC won the match between the schools, 5-1.

Next, the Lady Bulldogs will continue on the road to top-ranked Florida in a match set for 1 p.m. ET. on Sunday at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/24/03
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State University women's tennis team (6-3) fell to 15th-ranked South Alabama, 7-0, on Sunday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Courts on the campus of South Alabama.

In doubles action, Elaine Fagan and Yumi Ueda fell 8-2 to Jaguars Katarina Palenikova and Viktoria Stoklasova at the No. 1 position. Anastasia Kugakolova and Magdi Rekasi played a tough match with Marlieke Jager and Klara Jarova at the second position. Jager and Jarova were victorious 9-7 over MSU's duo. At the No. 3 position, Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala fell to Andrea Kurekova and Dominika Nemcovicova in an 8-2 decision.

Hirt fell, at the No. 1 position to No. 47th-ranked Stoklasova, 6-2, 6-0. Kurekova defeated MSU's Rekasi 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 2 position. At No. 3, Kugakolova dropped her match to Jager 7-5, 6-2.

Ueda fell 6-0, 6-2 to Nemcovicova at the fourth spot. Fagan was defeated by USA's Jarova, 6-2, 6-3. In the only match to need a super-tiebreaker, Switala fell 6-3, 4-6, 10-5, to Palenikova to snap her five-match singles win streak.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action Fri., Feb. 28, when the squad opens SEC play against 23rd-ranked South Carolina. The match is set to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs would gain and early lead on the day by pulling out a very close doubles point. After the teams had split matches at the No. 2 (8-2 MSU) and 3 (9-7 MT) positions, the teams found themselves engaged in a tiebreaker at the No. 1 spot to decide the point. Down 6-5 in the breaker against 10th-ranked Blue Raiders Kirk Jackson and Daniel Klemetz, State's duo of Romain Ambert and Max Fomine would claim the last three points of the contest to upset the MT duo 9-8(6).

Despite dropping the doubles point, the Blue Raiders would make things very tough for State in singles as they claimed the first set in four of the six matches to position themselves for a comeback, three of them by very close margins.

The Bulldogs grabbed a 2-0 lead when the junior Fomine ousted Greg Pollack 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 3 position to improve to 6-2 in dual matches. Middle Tennessee answered that with a 7-5, 6-2 victory from Michael Staniak at No. 5 over Bulldog Florent Girod.

The teams would split the next two contests complete as well. MSU went up 3-1 when Ambert posted a solid 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 1 over Klemetz, currently the nation's third-ranked player. MT's Anant Sitaram then notched a 6-3, 6-4 win over Matt Armstrong at No. 6. to cut the lead to 3-2. That left the No. 2 and 4 spots, where the Blue Raiders had claimed the first set 7-5 in each, still out.

At No. 2, MSU's Jerome Le Belicard would pull an incredible comeback. Down 7-5, 5-2 in the match, the senior Bulldog from Nice, France, rallied to win 11 of the final 13 games for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 upset victory over Jackson, ranked 92nd, that clinched the team victory for State.

At No. 4, MSU senior Rene-Charles Combette, ranked 76th, would then post a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 comeback over Middle Tennessee's Rishan Kuruppu. Combette, who has been battling injury most of 2003, was playing in just his second singles match this season.

"I was very proud of our team for stepping up when this match was on the line," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "We were a point away from dropping the doubles point and a handful of games away from losing the match in singles. But they really fought hard and got the job done. This is a good win to end our non-conference schedule with. Now we will prepare for the SEC."

The Bulldogs now focus on the beginning of the 2003 Southeastern Conference slate. MSU will host No. 16 South Carolina this Friday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. and welcome No. 6 Florida, this Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/23/03
Softball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. ­ Mississippi State (10-5) rallied for four unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning and rode an outstanding outing from Courtney Frank to pick up their fifth-straight victory with a 5-1 win over IPFW Saturday afternoon at the 26th annual Troy Cox Classic hosted by New Mexico State University.

Second baseman Brooke Best drove in a pair of runs on a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, while fellow infielder Jennifer Jessup scored a run on a 2-for-3 tally. Jennifer Nelson provided the only other multi-hit tally for the Maroon and White, driving in and scoring a run on a 2-for-4 day. Maggie Bruening paced IPFW at the plate, driving in a run on a 2-for-3 tally.

Frank (1-2) scattered three hits and allowed a single run over a complete game, striking out one to pick up her first win of the season. Mindy Pomeroy allowed five runs on one walk and six hits to take the loss for the Mastodons.

"I thought Courtney settled down a lot after giving up a run in the first inning," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "Our pitching is starting to mature and we are getting complete games out of them which is a very good sign. I feel good with where we're at right now and I feel a lot better about our pitching."

IPFW struck first in the game, getting its leadoff hitter aboard via a single to left field then, after a pair of wild pitches moved the runner to third, took the lead on a two-out RBI double to leftfield by Bruening. MSU struck back in the third, however, rallying for four unearned runs to take a 4-1 lead into the third. A RBI groundout by Krystal Tillman and a two-run single by Best highlighted the inning scoring.

Jennifer Nelson's RBI groundout in the fourth scored Tillman with an insurance run for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State will close out action in the Troy Cox Classic Sunday morning when the Maroon and White suit up to take on Colorado State, the only other undefeated team at the tournament, in the championship game at 10 a.m. MST. The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday afternoon when they host a doubleheader with Samford at the Mississippi State Softball Field. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 4 p.m. and admission is free.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 5, IPFW 1
IPFW 100 000 0 - 1 3 2
Mississippi State 040 100 x - 5 8 0
Pomeroy, Mason (6) and Fisher; Frank and Brown. W ­ Frank (1-2). L ­ Pomeroy. Save ­ None. 2B: IPFW, Bruening.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. ­ Mississippi State (9-5) plated a pair of key first inning runs, and used pitching and outstanding defensive plays throughout to remain perfect at the 26th annual Troy Cox Classic with a 4-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago (2-11) Saturday afternoon in Las Cruces, N.M.

Jennifer Waterman drove in a pair of runs and walked once to highlight a 2-for-2 tally at the plate, while Iyhia McMichael extended her hitting streak to 10 games on a 1-for-3 showing with a run scored. Blaire Brown highlighted a 1-for-3 showing with a solo home run in the third, her first dinger of the season. UIC rightfielder Nicole Shepard turned in a 2-for-3 tally to pace the Flames.

State starter Melissa Massey (7-1) worked her second complete game in less than 24 hours and earned her fiifth-straight decision, striking out four and allowing no earned runs on five UIC hits. It was the second-straight game in which the sophomore has not allowed an earned run. Brittany McIntyre (1-4) took the loss for UIC, surrendering four runs on six Maroon and White hits.

"Melissa threw great and we did a good job at the plate," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "I thought today we were a little anxious with our bats, but we scored some runs and that is a good sign. Defensively, we were a little shaky but we made some great defensive plays late in the game to preserve the win."

Illinois-Chicago utilized a key throwing error with its leadoff at-bat, along with a sac bunt, to move a runner into scoring position immediately, setting the table for Amanda Rivera who delivered a RBI single through the left side to put UIC up 1-0. However, MSU struck back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame, getting a two-run triple from Jennifer Waterman to take a lead it would never relinquish.

Mississippi State stretched its lead out to 3-1 on Brown's solo homer in the third, then added an insurance run in the sixth when Meagan O'Nan scored on a costly fielding error by UIC.

Illinois-Chicago flirted with tying the game in the fifth, using a hit and a fielding error by the Bulldogs to put runners at the corners with two outs, but Sara Hernandez's potential game tying shot to the gap in left centerfield was collected by Tillman who left her feet to corral the ball.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 4, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 1
Illinois-Chicago 100 000 0 - 1 5 3
Mississippi State 201 001 x - 4 6 3
McIntyre and Wilson; Massey and Waterman. W ­ Massey (7-1). L ­ McIntyre (1-4). Save ­ None. 3B: MSU, Waterman (1). HR: MSU, Brown (1).

Source: MSU Media Relations

"We are really excited to be playing a top 15 team in South Alabama," said head coach Tracy Lane. "This is a great opportunity for our girls."

State is coming off a shutout victory over Austin Peay, 6-0. Opole, Poland, native, Justyna Switala has a 5-0 singles record, the best on the squad. She also holds the highest doubles winning percentage, .667.

Competing for the Maroon and White are Patricia Assumpcao, Elaine Fagan, Anastasia Kugakolova, Marcelle Hirt, Magdi Rekasi, Justyna Switala and Yumi Ueda.

The 7-1 Jaguars are coached by Jaco Keyser in his first season with South Alabama.

USA leads the series with MSU 13-6. USA defeated the Lady Bulldogs 5-2 in their last meeting in 2002 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs, 3-4 overall, are hoping to end a three-match losing skid, most recently dropping a 4-3 decision to No. 46 South Alabama Wednesday in Starkville. The Blue Raiders, 1-6, have dropped four contests in a row with the latest being a 5-2 defeat at thehands of 12th-ranked Alabama Wednesday.

MSU and Middle Tennessee have met on the tennis court 14 times in the modern era (since 1969). The Bulldogs hold a perfect 14-0 series lead on the Blue Raiders in that time span. The teams have met 12 times in the last 12 years, including MSU's 5-2 win last season in Starkville.

State is led by junior all-American Romain Ambert, last season's ITA National Player to Watch. He was ranked No. 3 nationally in singles in the preseason ranking in September but is currently unranked due to not playing the fall. Bulldog senior Rene-Charles Combette is 76th in the country at present.

MT is paced by senior Daniel Klemetz who is currently the nation's third-ranked player. He won the ITA All-American Hardcourt Championship in October. Also ranked for the Blue Raiders is Kirk Jackson, who is No. 92. In doubles, Jackson and Klemetz team to form the nation's 10th-ranked duo.

Both teams have been battling the injury bug this spring. State's Combette has missed matches due to a thigh injury and Bulldog Luiz Carvalho has yet to play due to off-season shoulder surgery. MT's Klemetz has struggled early on after undergoing minor surgery on his knees after the fall. Sophomore Greg Pollack missed the last match due to a pelvic injury.

"Middle Tennessee is much better than their record," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "Like us, they have not been full strength for most of the season. They are a very talented team and we will have to be very focused against them."

Following Sunday's action, the Bulldogs will prepare for the beginning of their Southeastern Conference slate. MSU will host No. 16 South Carolina this coming Friday, Feb. 28, and welcome No. 6 Florida, next Sunday, March 2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/22/03
Softball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. ­ Mississippi State (8-5) reached the double-digit hit mark for the third time this season and rallied for seven runs behind an oustanding pitching performance from Melissa Massey to blow past Nevada-Reno, 7-0, and remain perfect on day one of the 26th annual Troy Cox Classic hosted by New Mexico State University.

Three different Bulldogs recorded a pair of multi-hit performances with Iyhia McMichael and Blaire Brown both plating a pair of runs on 2-for-4 showings at the plate. Lindsay Nelson also recorded a multi-hit performance, scoring a run on a 2-for-3 night at the plate which included a double and a triple. Rightfielder Cindy Elkins walked on a 2-for-2 night to pace the Wolfpack. It was the ninth-straight game in which McMichael has hit safely.

Massey won her fourth-consecutive decision, scattering four hits and striking out four, to improve her record to 6-1 on the campaign. Judith van Kampen (1-2), last week's WAC Pitcher of the Week, surrendered seven runs on 11 hits by the Maroon and White to take the loss for Nevada.

"We got extra-base hits galore tonight," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "Top to bottom, we got a lot more production out of our lineup. Melissa got in a little trouble in the fifth, but she got herself out of it. She stepped up and dominated once again."

State scratched the scoreboard in the opening frame, getting McMichael to second via a two-base fielding error by the Wolfpack to set the table for Brown who delivered a hard single through the right side of the infield to give MSU a 1-0 lead. With Massey continuing to dominate from the circle, State stretched its lead to a pair in the third, getting a one-out triple from Lindsay Nelson, then scoring the run on a wild pitch from van Kampen seconds later.

A fielding error by Nevada brought another run home in the fourth for the Maroon and White, before State broke the game wide open in the fifth on three consecutive doubles that pushed the lead out to 5-0. Brooke Best's RBI groundout in the seventh, coupled with McMichael's RBI single to rightfield, completed the game scoring.

Massey exhibited total control of the Nevada lineup for much of the game, sending the 'Pack down in order in the first, fourth and sixth frames. Nevada's only serious scoring threat came in the fifth when the Wolfpack loaded the bases with their first four at-bats, but Massey settled down, inducing leadoff hitter Sonia Rojo to ground out and Stacy Mueller to fly out to centerfield.

Mississippi State will continue action in the Troy Cox Classic on Saturday when the Bulldogs suit up to take on Illinois-Chicago at 12:30 p.m. MST and will close out the day in a 4:30 game against IPFW.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/20/03
Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State's 30th-ranked men's tennis team fell in a tight 4-3 decision to No. 46 South Alabama Wednesday afternoon on the MSU campus.

The loss, which was the Bulldogs' third straight, dropped State to 3-4 overall. USA improved to 6-2. The defeat also marked only the fifth for MSU against a non-SEC opponent in Starkville in 61 such matches. The Jaguars have now produced the last two of those five setbacks.

USA claimed the opening point of the day with victories at the No. 1 and 3 doubles positions. Bulldogs Romain Ambert and Max Fomine teamed to salvage a 9-8(3) win at the No. 2 spot over Jaguars Pavel Mazaev and Jorgen Vestli.

In singles, South Alabama would claim the first set at the bottom three positions and ride those leads to the victory.

The Jaguars went up 2-0 in the match when Evan Fowler completed a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over Bulldog freshman Luc Maasdorp at the No. 6 spot.

State would claim straight-set triumphs in the next two matches to even the score at 2-2. The junior all-American Ambert downed USA's Clinton Jacobs 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 1 spot, while Fomine was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Pazaev at No. 3. Fomine improved to 5-2 in singles dual matches this season with his victory.

But South Alabama finished off the next two matches to get the team win. USA regained the advantage at 3-2 with a 6-3, 6-4 win from David Nylen over Bulldog Florent Girod at the No. 4 position. Vestli then registered the clinching point at No. 5, besting State's Matt Armstrong 6-3, 6-2.

Bulldog senior Jerome Le Belicard claimed a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory in the final match of the day for MSU's third point.

State was without the services of Rene-Charles Combette (ranked 76th) and Luiz Carvalho in the match. The senior Combette has been suffering from a thigh injury and the junior Carvalho has yet to play this season, still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

"Yes, we had two of our top three players out," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said, "but that was not the reason we lost today. We played a quality opponent in South Alabama, but one that we could have beaten with the lineup we had today. Our guys simply did not step up in doubles or in the bottom of the singles lineup like they should and that was the difference in the match."

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, continuing their four-match homestand against 59th-ranked Middle Tennessee at 1 p.m. State will then open Southeastern Conference action the following weekend with home affairs versus No. 16 South Carolina (Feb. 28) and No. 6 Florida (March 2).

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/19/03
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the first time in school history, the Bulldogs' and Lady Bulldogs' indoor track teams are both ranked in the Trackwire 25 power rankings.

The men's team held steady at No. 4 for the second straight week. SEC foes Arkansas, South Carolina and LSU are the top three teams, respectively.

The women's team earned its first ever ranking for an indoor team, coming in 23rd on the list. State is tied with Rice, Jacksonville and Washington State at No. 23.

The Lady Bulldogs are one of seven Southeastern Conference teams in the top 25, with LSU prevailing in the top spot. MSU's men are one of 10 teams from the SEC in the top 25.

State's next meet is the SEC Indoor Championships, held in Gainesville, Fla., March 1-2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs, 3-3, have endured losses at 32nd-ranked Tulane and against fifth-ranked Mississippi (in Jackson) in their last two outings since starting the year 3-1. South Alabama is also on a two-match skid, standing 5-2 after claiming five straight wins to start to the season. The Jaguars most recently fell versus No. 3 Baylor and No. 36 TCU, both on the road.

The teams have met 13 times in the modern era (since 1969). The Bulldogs hold an 8-5 series lead on the Jaguars in that time span, 4-3 in Starkville. The teams met twice last season, with State taking a 6-1 decision in Starkville and a 4-1 triumph in the first round of the NCAA Championship in Auburn, Ala. In 2001, USA won 4-3 at State, one of only four non-SEC teams to have won on the MSU campus in the last 60 such contests.

Following Wednesday's battle, State continues its homestand Sunday, welcoming 51st-ranked Middle Tennessee at 1 p.m. MSU will then prepare to open the 2003 Southeastern Conference slate, hosting No. 17 South Carolina (Feb. 28) and No. 6 Florida (Mar. 2).

Source: MSU Media Relations

Mississippi State's slate at the 10-team round-robin style tournament features first-time meetings against three different opponents, as well the second and third meetings against two others. The Maroon and White will get underway on Friday at 8:30 a.m. (MST) against Nevada-Reno (3-2), while also playing later that day against Miami of Ohio (2-0) at 2:30.

On Saturday, the 'Dogs will play their first game of the day at 12:30 p.m. against 2002 NCAA Regional participant Illinois-Chicago (1-8) and will follow with a 4:30 game against IPFW (0-0). State will wrap up play at the Troy Cox Classic on Sunday with a 10 a.m. game against Colorado State. The tournament will feature 15 games at NMSU's Presley Askew Softball Complex and 10 games at Las Cruces' Maag Park.

Currently the third-best hitting team (.321) in the Southeastern Conference, the Bulldogs have already flirted with greatness at the plate this season. Seven Maroon and White hitters currently possess averages at or above the .300 plateau, including freshman Callye Williams who, although a rookie with the club, has held her own in the batter's box by turning in a .333 batting average and an on-base percentage (.478) that is creeping up on the .500 mark. Two-time all-SEC outfielder Iyhia McMichael currently heads the team with a .469 batting average and a conference-leading .875 slugging percentage. McMichael hit .583 in four games last week, including breaking a pair of school records (total bases, RBI) on a 3-for-4 day against Samford that included a grand slam, a pair of triples and seven RBI.

In their first year of varsity-sponsored softball, Nevada is 3-2 in their young history, having knocked off Cal-Poly, Sacramento State and Colorado State last weekend at the Cal-Poly Tournament in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Judith van Kampen, last week's WAC Pitcher of the Week, went 2-1 in four appearances at the tournament, posting a 1.59 ERA in 22.2 innings, including a pair of complete games and 24 strikeouts. The Wolfpack, led by Carrie Mackey's .400 (4-for-10) batting average, is hitting .218 as a squad, but are holding their opponents to a paltry .213 clip. The Wolfpack travel to Sacramento State for a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.

Coming off a seventh-place finish in the Mid-American Conference last season, the Miami Redhawks will open their season this weekend in Las Cruces. Miami returns eight position starters and a pair of pitchers off its 2002 team that finished the campaign with a 16-37 clip. Among its returnees is senior first baseman Angie Gerber who finished as the only Redhawk above the .300 plateau last season (.319, 7 HR, 28 RBI) and is currently tied for the team lead with a .667 (2-for-3) average after two games. Sophomore lefthander Jackie Poggendorf, who finished with a 14-21 record and a 2.95 ERA in 2002, returns to anchor the pitching staff this season.

Seven-time NCAA Regional participant Illinois-Chicago returns just four starters off of last season's Horizon League championship squad that turned in a 43-22 record and its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional berth. The Flames have won just one of the first nine outings with their lone victory coming Saturday against South Florida (W, 8-6) in the Florida Gator Invitational. Although producing a .308 on-base percentage, UIC is hitting just .216 as a club and are averaging just two runs per game. Pitching has been UIC's Achilles heel through the early part of the campaign, as the Flames' hurlers have combined for a 5.19 team ERA while allowing their opponents to hit .346. Junior Amanda Rivera paces the club with a .294 (5-for-17) clip, while senior righthander Alison Aguilar, a 23-game winner in 2002, has gotten off to an unusually slow start, posting a 1-3 record with a 4.30 ERA in six appearances so far this season. Saturday's contest with the Flames will mark just the second time that MSU and UIC have met in softball, with the Bulldogs taking the last meeting ­ a 4-2 decision in the quarterfinals of the 2000 Speedline Invitational.

One of 11 independent softball squads, IPFW will open their season in Las Cruces after posting a 9-27 record in 2002. However, the Mastodons return seven position players and all of its pitchers from that team. Sophomore shortstop Angela Grabczak returns for the Mastodons in 2003 after posting a team-best .301 (31-for-103) average last season to go along with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBI. Staff ace Mindy Pomeroy returns for her junior season after turning in a 4-19 clip with a 2.75 ERA in 2002.

Colorado State is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Mountain West Conference, posting a 19-33 record for the 2002 campaign. The Rams return eight position starters and two of its pitchers for the 2003 season. Colorado State has mustered just two wins in its first eight contests of the current campaign, but have also dropped three decisions by just two runs or less. The meeting between CSU and MSU will mark the third in the series, with MSU prevailing 10-2 in six innings in the last matchup at the 2002 Bulldog Classic.

Following this weekend's action in New Mexico, Mississippi State will return home to host its first doubleheader of the season, taking on Samford in a 4 p.m. twinbill at the Mississippi State Softball Field. Admission to all 2003 MSU Softball home games is free of charge.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Nugent comes to Starkville following a standout career in the Texas prep ranks, as well as stints on high-level club and Olympic Development Program squads. She is expected to make an immediate impact with the Maroon and White.

"Megan will give us a new look at outside midfield," McGuire said. "She is blessed with speed, excellent ball skills and accurate passing ability. We look for her to be a critical part of our offensive unit."

Prior to the current season, Nugent was recognized immediately as a Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram Player to Watch. She took the news in stride and has led her Hebron team under coach Eric Ramirez to a No. 2 ranking in the area, as well as a No. 5 ranking in the state. Through 14 games, Nugent has scored 42 points on 13 goals and 16 assists, while also capturing all-tournament team honors at the Upper 90 Kickoff Classic.

As a prep junior, she scored 57 points on 21 goals and 15 assists en route to leading Hebron to the Distict 9-4A co-championship and a spot in the state regional quarterfinals. Along the way she captured all-tournament team laurels at both the Image and Southlake tournaments and, at seasonšs end, earned a spot on the Dallas Morning News all-area squad.

A standout with the Dallas Sting under coaches Andy Masandra and Juan Navarro, as well as with the Solar and coach Eric Dade, Nugent has helped lead her teams to championships of the 2001 Orange Bowl Classic, the 2000 WAGS and the 2001 Heartland Classic tournaments.

A two-year (1998, 2001) participant in the North Texas State ODP program, Nugent was coached by Gilbert Richardson and Nick Cowell.

A standout in the academic arena as well, Nugent holds down a 3.16 cumulative GPA at Hebron. The daughter of Paul and Linda Nugent was born on June 20, 1985, in Dallas, Texas. She has two younger sisters, Caitlin and Kelsi. She is undecided on a major at MSU.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/18/03
Men's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State University men's golf team finished day one of competition at the Matlock Invitational in Lakeland, Fla., Monday. The Florida Southern College hosted event is being played at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club, a par 72, 7,065 yard course.

State is in 14th place after shooting 19-over par in two-rounds of play (297-298=595). MSU is one stroke behind West Florida and Campbell University who are in a tie for 12th-place.

The Bulldogs are led by lone senior Codie Mudd. Mudd shot a one-under par 71 in his second 18 leaving him in a four-way tie for 18th-place and only seven strokes behind the leader. Tied for 52nd, Joe Deraney and Tim Satow both shot a seven-over par 151 for the day.

Jay Giannetto shot a 75 in the second half of competition placing him tied at 66th (79-75=154). Kellen Maurer completed the day with an 11-over par showing (73-82=155).

The current individual leader is Geoffrey Harris of Old Dominion. Harris shot two consecutive rounds of three-under par 69. Shooting two-over par, Rollins College and Miami (Ohio) are tied for the team crown after 36 holes.

Day two of the Matlock Invitational will begin with tee times ranging from 7:30 a.m. to 9:22 a.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/16/03
Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mississippi State's Tiffany McWilliams broke another school record in winning the Olympic development mile on the Tyson Invitational's Golden Spikes Day Saturday.

The Red Bay, Ala., native ran a 4:36.89 in the mile, the fastest collegiate time in the country, taking the race over five professional athletes and two other collegiates. The time improved on her school record set earlier this year by three seconds.

For the men, senior Pierre Browne automatically qualified in the 60-meter dash, clocking a 6.61 in the finals to finish fifth. The time tied Marquis Davis' school record in the event set last weekend at the Rod McCravy Memorial. Browne was the only collegiate to make the finals which included the world record holder in the 100-meter dash Maurice Green.

A tape delay broadcast of Saturday's events will be shown on ESPN2 Sunday night at 7 p.m. CT.

MSU has next week off to prepare for the SEC Championships, held in Gainesville, Fla., March 1-2.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Lady Raiders (2-6) began the Friday evening match by winning the doubles point. The 29th-ranked tandem of Manon Kruse and Stacy Varnell won 8-3 over Yumi Ueda and Elaine Fagan at No. 1. MTSU's Carien Venter and Laura McNamara, at No. 3, defeated Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala 8-3.

At No. 2, State's Magdolna Rekasi and Anastasia Kugakolova rallied with four straight games to tie the score at seven all with the MTSU duo of Jennifer Klaschka and Emily Vest. Klaschka and Vest won the final two games for a 9-7 victory over MSU's duo.

In singles, 56th-ranked Kruse defeated Hirt, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1, while Klaschka defeated Rekasi, 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2. Stacy Varnell's 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ueda at No. 4 sealed the win for the Lady Raiders. At o. 4, Kugakolova fell 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 to Venter in the only three-set match of the day. Fagan fell 7-5, 7-5 to McNamara at No. 5, while the Lady Bulldogs' only win came at No. 6, as Switala defeated Vest, 7-5, 6-2.

In Saturday's match against Austin Peay the Racquet Club, head coach Tracy Lane's squad swept singles in the only action played.

At No. 1, Hirt defeated Zarinah Brown 6-4, 6-2. Rekasi downed Austin Peay's Elizabeth Whelpley 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2, while Ueda, at No. 3, won her match 6-2, 6-0 over Jessie Mills. Fagan and Switala both claimed 6-0, 6-0 wins over Nicki Tafolla and Jenica Proctor, respectively to complete the sweep.

The Lady Bulldogs travel to Mobile Sun., Feb. 23 to take on the Lady Jaquars of South Alabama in a match set to get underway at 11 a.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

OXFORD, Miss. ­ Steady rain continued to wreak havoc on the opening day of the Rebel/Easton Invitational softball tournament in Oxford, Miss., finally forcing tournament officials to declare a washout.

Weather providing, Mississippi State (5-4) will face Jacksonville State at 11 a.m. on Sunday, followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Samford.

Rain will likely continue through tonight and Sunday's forecast for the Oxford area is calling for a 70 percent chance of rain, mainly in the morning hours.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/15/03
Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Two-time all-American Dion Crabbe led the Mississippi State track teams with two provisional qualifying marks on the first day of the Tyson Invitational.

The senior from the British Virgin Islands ran a 6.72 in the 60-meter dash preliminaries to tie his career-best mark set last season. He later clocked his 200m at 21.24, finishing 12th in the event and handing him a second provisional qualifying mark on the day.

Crabbe later finished fifth in the finals of the 60m.

Senior Pierre Browne also improved his provisional 200m mark in the Randal Tyson Track Center. He rounded the banked oval in 21.02, finishing sixth in the meet. Glenn McFadden finished eighth in the same competition.

Sophomore J.D. Erickson had two top-ten finishes in the throwing events. The Memphis, Tenn., native ranked fifth in the shot put (54-8 3/4) and placed eighth in the weight throw (54-5 1/2).

On the women's side, sophomore Meggan Hodge turned in a top performance in the 5000 meters. The Beaumont, Alberta, native clocked in at 17:08.89 in the 5K race, finishing sixth with her best time ever at that distance.

State will have competitors in the Golden Spikes Tour events, sponsored by USA Track & Field, on Saturday, Feb. 15. Events get underway at 5 p.m. The races will be shown on ESPN2 Sunday night at 7 p.m. CT.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Kate Jaspers and Iyhia McMichael both turned in 2-for-2 days at the plate to highlight the Mississippi State bats, while Krystal Tillman and Callye Williams both scored three times. Senior McMichael and senior Brooke Best (1-for-4) both homered for the Bulldogs. MVSU centerfielder Balencia Young led the way for the Delta Devils with a 2-for-2 day at the plate.

MSU starter Jennifer Nelson (1-1) worked a complete game shutout, striking out three and allowing just four hits, to get the victory. Delta Devil starter Natasha McFadden (0-1) also notched a complete game, but allowed 11 earned runs on nine hits and 11 walks to shoulder the loss. The 11 walks by State tied the mark for the second-most in school history, matching a feat set on April 14, 1998, against Louisiana-Monroe.

After a scoreless first, MSU's bats woke up in the bottom of the second, sending13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on seven hits and three errors by the visitors. State stretched its lead out to 10-0 on McMichael's solo blast in the third, then sent nine more batters to the plate in a four-run fourth inning.

Mississippi State will return to action Saturday afternoon when the Bulldogs suit up as part of the seven-team Mississippi Rebel/Easton Invitational. State will open up tournament play Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Indiana State (0-0) and will take on Jacksonville State at 7:00 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 14, MISS. VALLEY STATE 0 (5 Innings)
Miss. Valley State 000 00 - 0 4 5
Mississippi State 091 4x - 14 9 1
McFadden and Phillips; J. Nelson and Waterman. W ­ J. Nelson (1-1). L ­ McFadden (0-2). 2B ­ MSU, Williams, Jessup. 3B ­ MSU, Jaspers. HR ­ MSU, Best, McMichael.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/14/03
Men's Tennis
JACKSON, Miss. ­ Mississippi State's 29th-ranked men's tennis team fell 4-0 to fifth-ranked Mississippi in the sixth-annual River Hills Cup Thursday night at River Hills Club. The loss dropped MSU to 3-3 overall on the young 2003 season. UM improved to 3-0.

The loss also marked the 10th straight the Bulldogs have suffered to the Rebels. UM improved its lead in the battle for the Cup, which began in 1998, to 4-2. Although the last three singles positions never got a chance to play, the 4-0 score marked the first shutout in the series since 1973 when State posted the third of three consecutive 9-0 blankings over UM.

The Rebels got on the board early by securing the opening doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions. First off the court were Rebels Paul Ciorascu and Catalin Gard, who edged Bulldogs Florent Girod and Jerome Le Belicard 8-6 at the No. 2 spot. At No. 1, UM's 40th-ranked duo of Alex Hartman and Claes Lindholm downed MSU's pair of Romain Ambert and Rene-Charles Combette 8-3 to win the point. The teams were tied 7-7 at No. 3 when play was suspended at that point.

In singles, UM came out strong, claiming the first set in all of the first three matches to take the court. The Rebels would ride those leads to the team victory.

At No. 1 singles, UM's 24th-ranked Hartman bested Ambert 6-2, 6-4. At No. 2, State's Max Fomine dropped a close 6-4, 6-4 decision to Gard, ranked 34th. The Rebels' Ciorascu, ranked 18th in the country, then completed the victory for UM, downing MSU's Le Belicard 7-6(5), 6-4 at No. 3. No remaining matches got underway.

"We simply did not do the things we needed to do to have a chance in this match," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "We played well in spots and fought hard to make a couple of matches close, but we just could not quite get over the hump. Mississippi has another very talented team this year, one that will be a factor on the national level. We will put this behind us and focus on our next match."

The Bulldogs now return home this coming Wednesday, Feb. 19, to start a four-match homestand, welcoming 45th-ranked South Alabama.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Held in the Randal Tyson Track Center, the meet will give head coach Al Schmidt's squads a final chance to run on the same track where the NCAA Indoor Championships will be held on March 14-15.

The sprint and hurdles competitors, who have six qualifiers for the national event among the group, lead the men's team to Arkansas. Senior Dion Crabbe looks to add his name to both the 60 and 200 meters qualifying list in Friday's collegiate competition.

Senior Chris Boldt also looks to improve his qualifying mark in the mile. The Stillwater, Minn., native ran a 4:04.45 to finish third last weekend at the Rod McCravy Memorial. He also hopes to anchor the distance medley relay team to a provisional qualifying mark.

On the women's side, sophomore Tiffany McWilliams leads the Lady Bulldogs once again. The Red Bay, Ala., native is qualified in two individual events and helped the distance medley relay team to a new school record last weekend at Kentucky.

Some of Saturday's competitions will be a part of the USA Track & Field Golden Spikes Tour. Bulldogs Pierre Browne and Marquis Davis will be pitted against a star-studded professional field in the 60m and 200m. McWilliams is slated to run in the mile that evening as well.

The collegiate events get under way Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the women's high jump and 3000 meters.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The 5-1 Lady Bulldogs enter the match coming off their first loss of the spring to 36th ranked Tulane.

Head coach Tracy Lane sends Patricia Assumpcao, Elaine Fagan, Marcelle Hirt, Anastasia Kugakolova, Magdi Rekasi, Justyna Switala and Yumi Ueda to the courts for the Maroon and White.

State leads the series with Middle Tennessee, 7-2. In its last meeting, MSU swept MTSU 7-0 in Starkville, Miss., during the 2002 season.

"We're are looking forward to this weekend," said head coach Tracy Lane. "Claudia and I are trying to get the girls to understand just what happened last season when MTSU came to State and swept us 7-0. We are playing good tennis now and this match should help us get prepared for SEC play."

On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs will face Austin Peay, also in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in a match set for 11 a.m. This is the second meeting between the two schools. State leads the series 1-0 after defeating Austin Peay, 7-2, at the 1984 MTSU Quadrangular.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Fresh off a shutout victory at UAB on Tuesday night, State will look to build on its recent hitting trend as the Bulldogs currently rank third in the Southeastern Conference with a .286 team batting clip. Melissa Massey also put State's pitching back on the right track Wednesday night, throwing her first shutout since March 8 of last season while holding UAB to just five hits on the night.

Four MSU players are currently hitting .312 or better with junior Lindsay Nelson paving the way on a .409 clip. Six players have recorded on-base percentages of .312 or better.

Mississippi Valley State split a doubleheader at MUW on Saturday afternoon in Columbus, scoring six runs on five hits in the first inning of the twinbill opener to eventually take a 6-4 decision from the Blues. MUW bounced back in the second game to defeat the Delta Devils, 9-3.

Following Friday afternoon's action at home, the Bulldogs will take to the road once again, traveling to Oxford, Miss., as part of the six team Mississippi Rebel/Easton Invitational this weekend. The Maroon and White will open round-robin play on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. against Indiana State and will take on Jacksonville State at 3:45 p.m. On Sunday, State will face Nicholls State at 9 a.m. and Samford at 3:45 p.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Mullen comes to Starkville following a brilliant career in the Mississippi prep ranks, as well as receiving high honors in the junior college circuit. She is expected to contribute immediately for the Bulldogs.

"Allison comes to us having gained valuable experience at the highest level of junior college soccer," McGuire said. "She is a powerful and explosive forward who will add to our scoring threat in the offensive third. As a Mississippi native, she will bring a passion for Bulldog athletics."

Despite playing in only eight games last season due to a knee injury, Mullen scored 17 goals and three assists en route to leading Hinds to a 17-1 record, the NJCAA Region 23 and MAGJC state championships, and a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Southeastern District championships. Following the campaign, she was named to the all-American teams and a first team all-region selection by the NSCAA in addition to being the first pick on the NJCAA all-region first team.

As a freshman at Hinds, she tallied 29 goals and six assists in leading the Eagles to a 17-2-1 clip and a fourth place finish at the NJCAA Women's National Championship. After leading her team to the MAGJC state and the NJCAA Region 23 and Southeastern District championships, Mullen was awarded all-American honors from both the NSCAA (3rd team) and the NJCAA (2nd team) in addition to receiving first team all-region honors from both organizations. Mullen also earned all-tournament honors at the NJCAA Women's National Championship.

A standout prep player at Greenville's St. Joe High School, Mullen was named her team's most valuable player during her senior campaign - a season which concluded with her being named MVP of the Mississippi all-star game, as well as all-state laurels. She was also selected "Best Female Athlete" at St. Joe.

The daughter of Betty Joe Winters was born on Aug. 1, 1983, in Greenville. She has one younger brother, Butch. Mullen will graduate with her A.A. degree from Hinds in March and currently holds down a 3.08 cumulative GPA.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/13/03
Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State's men's tennis team, ranked 29th nationally in the latest ITA poll, will battle fifth-ranked, arch-rival Mississippi in the sixth annual River Hills Cup Thursday. Match time is set for 5 p.m. at Jackson's River Hills Club. Tickets are available by contacting River Hills at 601-987-4438. Proceeds from the match are split each year to benefit each school's program.

The Bulldogs, 3-2, will be looking to break a nine-match losing skid versus the Rebels, 2-0. That streak dates back to the 1999 River Hills Cup when MSU won 4-3. State claimed victory during the first two years of the Cup, but UM has won the last three meetings in Jackson.

The match assures to be yet another tight affair. Since the seven-point format was adopted in 1993, 13 of the 19 matches between MSU and UM have been decided by two points or less and nine have been claimed by 4-3 scores.

State is led by junior all-American Romain Ambert, who is 21-6 at the No. 1 singles position during his career. Ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, he was 2002's ITA National Player to Watch. State has also welcomed 76th-ranked senior Rene-Charles Combette, who has been injured, back to the lineup in its last two matches.

The Rebels currently have four players ranked, three in the top 35 nationally. Paul Ciorascu is 18th, Alex Hartman is 24th and Catalin Gard is 34th.

"Once again, we will have our hands full in this match," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "But that is the case every time we meet. The River Hills Cup always produces a great match and I don't expect this year to be any different."

Following Thursday's battle, State returns home next Wednesday, Feb. 19, to begin a four-match homestand, welcoming 45th-ranked South Alabama.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Junior sprinter Marquis Davis has been honored by the Southeastern Conference as the male track Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Also, the men's indoor track team from Mississippi State earned its highest ranking in school history in the Trackwire.com 25, moving up to fourth.

The two-time all-American Davis received the award after winning the 60 and 200 meters at the Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, Ky. The Memphis, Tenn., native's times of 6.61 and 20.72, respectively, set new McCravy meet and State school records.

Davis is MSU's first male track athlete to receive the weekly award from the SEC.

In the rankings, the Bulldogs are now ranked behind fellow SEC foes Arkansas, South Carolina and LSU in the power rankings released on Tuesday. All 11 SEC men's teams are ranked for the third straight week.

The rating of fourth is State's best indoor ranking achieved and matches the highest ranking the men's team received outdoors last season.

The Bulldogs compete at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., Feb. 14-15.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Blaire Brown scored a run on a 2-for-3 hitting performance, while junior Lindsay Nelson drove in a run on a 1-for-3 tally to pace the MSU offense. Brooke Best (1-for-3) and Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3) each added a hit for the Maroon and White, with Massey breaking into the offensive column by scoring a key run early in the contest.

Massey (4-1) handcuffed the UAB offense for most of the night, holding the Blazers' first five batters to no hits (0-for-15), including frustrating UAB's leadoff hitter, Candice Hithe, who stranded six runners on a 0-for-4 tally. Massey allowed just five hits and struck out four. Kerri Foster (1-1) allowed a pair of runs on five Maroon and White hits, striking out six, to take the loss for UAB.

After a scoreless first, State scratched the scoreboard first in the second inning, getting Brown aboard on a leadoff walk, then putting the pinchrunner Massey into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Krystal Tillman. A wild pitch moved Massey to third and an errant throw by catcher Amanda Ellis on a pickoff attempt moved the runner home.

MSU put its first two batters on in the seventh, then scored an insurance run on Lindsay Nelson's RBI single to left field that scored Brown from third base. UAB juiced the bases with two outs in both the second and fourth innings but, each time, Massey was able to induce Hithe into the inning-ending out. The Blazers stranded seven runners on the night.

Mississippi State will again be in action on Friday afternoon when the Bulldogs return home to take on visiting Mississippi Valley State in a 3 p.m. contest at the Mississippi State Softball Field. Admission to all 2003 Mississippi State Softball home games is free of charge.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 2, UAB 0
Mississippi State 010 000 1 - 2 5 1
UAB 000 000 0 - 0 5 1
Massey and Brown; Foster and Ellis. W ­ Massey (4-1). L ­ Foster (1-1). Save ­ None. SH ­ Tillman (1). SB ­ McMichael (4).

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/12/03
Men's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University men's golf team concluded the Rice University Intercollegiate Golf Tournament with its second best finish of the season in a tie for sixth-place with #44 Kansas State University.

Leading the team after all three rounds, Joe Deraney finished tied-12th, a new season best, after shooting a final round 79 (72-72-79). Codie Mudd completed the tournament tied-31st after shooting a 228 (78-74-76). Setting a new career-best finish, Jay Giannetto shot a final round even par 72 putting him in a tie for 39th-place.

Kellen Maurer dropped from tied at 15th to a tie for 47th following a final round of 85 (73-74-85). Also setting a new season-best finish, Tim Satow finished in 69th-place and tied his season-low round of 77 (88-82-77). Competing as an individual, Craig Horrocks rounded out the tournament in 71st (83-91-82).

Winning the team crown is 15th ranked Northwestern shooting a 865 (291-280-294). The individual medalist is Scott Harrington of Northwestern. Harrington led after all three rounds shooting a seven-under par to finish the tournament.

State will travel to Lakeland, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 17, for the Matlock Invitational. The Florida Southern hosted event will be held at the Grasslands Course.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs are coming off its first road gig of the season in which it took on five top 25 teams at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament hosted by Arizona State. Although rattling off a 2-4 showing, State erupted for 53 hits in six contests, including 17 against Wisconsin. Against its five ranked opponents, the Maroon and White hit a noteworthy .263 (36-for-137).

MSU currently ranks third in the Southeastern Conference with a .292 team batting average as five of its hitters sport a .308 average or better. The team has also recorded a .340 on-base percentage through seven contests.

UAB is coming off a doubleheader split with Troy State at home on Saturday, winning the opener against the Trojans, 2-0, on a one-hit shutout from senior righthander Kerri Foster, before TSU struck back in game two with a 4-2 victory in eight innings.

The Blazers, picked to finish third in the preseason Conference USA coaches' poll, have five players hitting .333 or better after two games to highlight a .214 team average. The Green and Gold currently boast a 1.20 team ERA, headlined by a 10:3 strikeout to walk ratio. Two of its players - infielder Candice Hithe and outfielder Cliffanie Engram ­ were named to the Preseason all-Conference USA squad. Hithe led the Blazers in hitting (.325) last season and was second in the league in stolen bases, while Engram hit .279 with eight doubles and 26 RBI.

Following Wednesday evening's action in the Magic City, State will return home on Friday to take on Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. before heading to Oxford this weekend for the Rebel/Easton Invitational hosted by the University of Mississippi.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/11/03
Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State head soccer coach Neil McGuire announced the third of seven expected spring signees Monday afternoon as Texas standout Sara Moore (Arlington, Texas/Nolan Catholic HS) signed her name on a national letter of intent to continue her playing career with Mississippi State.

Moore comes to Starkville following a brilliant career in the Texas prep ranks, as well as stints on high-level club and Olympic Development Program squads. She is expected to make an immediate impact with Mississippi State.

"Sara Moore is an excellent addition to our team," McGuire said. "She is a tough-tackling and tenacious competitor who will add steel to our defense. She is a very hard worker both on the field and in the classroom and she will add great character to our squad."

As a senior, Moore has helped lead her Nolan Catholic squad to a 16-10-2 record and a No. 14 national high school ranking, including an upset of No. 1 Colleyville Heritage earlier this season. She has scored 10 points on four goals and two assists from her defender position, while also logging approximately 940 minutes as a netminder.

As a junior, she tallied a goal and an assist for NCHS's run to a 26-11-3 record and a state runner-up finish en route to collecting TAPPS first team all-state and all-district honors for the second consecutive year. She also garnered her team's "Defender of the Year" award for the third-straight season and tallied approximately 990 minutes in goal.

A standout player for the D'Feeters club organization and coach Bob Hogan, Moore was a team captain in Texas's top club league and helped her team to a second place finish at Lake Highland's Division I Girls Classic League.

A four-year member (1997-99, 2002) of Texas's (NTSSA) state ODP team under coaches Gilbert Richardson and Nick Cowell, Moore was a member of the 2002 sub-regional squad as a defender.

An avid artist, Moore also lettered once in track at Nolan and is a member of the National Honor Society and High Honor Roll, and will graduate with honors in Spanish and English. The daughter of Randall and Cindy Moore was born on Jan. 17, 1985, in Fort Worth, Texas. She has two younger brothers, Jon and David. She is expecting to major in Communications at MSU.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Leading the Bulldogs is sophomore Joe Deraney in fourth-place. Deraney shot an even par in the two rounds (72-72) putting him eight strokes behind the individual leader. Kellen Maurer is in 15th-place at three-over par (73-74=147). Lone senior Codie Mudd shot 152, 8-over par, in his two rounds putting him in 33rd-place.

In 56th-place, Jay Giannetto is 13 strokes out of first-place after shooting a 157 (77-80). Tim Satow ended his two-rounds in 70th-place at 26-over par. Craig Horrocks, playing as an individual, finished four strokes behind teammate Satow. Horrocks is in 71st-place going into day two.

No.14th-ranked Northwestern leads the pack after two rounds with a five-under par showing. After day one, Scott Harrington of Northwestern is the individual leader shooting eight-under par (68-68).

The final day of competition will begin with a shot-gun start at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/09/03
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University women's tennis team faced the No. 42 ranked Greenwave of Tulane on Sunday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. Tulane defeated MSU 4-0. Prior to starting the match, both coaches decided to play singles first. In the middle of singles play, the match was moved indoors to MSUšs McCarthy Gymnasium due to rain.

At the No. 1 position, Magdi Rekasi faced the No. 10 ranked Julie Smekodub. Smekodub downed Rekasi in a hard-fought 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 decision. Marcelle Hirt, at No. 2, lost her match to No. 101 ranked Jenny Kuhn, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0. Anastasia Kugakolova fell to Erika Valdes 6-3, 6-3, in her match at No. 3. Tulane's Maria Ivanov defeated Yumi Ueda 6-1, 6-3, at No. 4.

Justyna Switala and Ana Saaibi were suspended at 1-6, 1-2, at the No. 5 position. The No. 6 match between Patricia Assumpcao and Lucy Wood was suspended at 1-3. No doubles matches were played.

Next, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Middle Tennessee in a 1 p.m. match on Friday, Feb. 14. The next day, State will face Austin Peay, also in Murfreesboro, Tenn., at 11 a.m., for their second match of seven-straight road matches.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Men's Golf
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University men's golf team will open its spring schedule at the Rice Intercollegiate Tournament in Houston, Texas, on Monday, Feb. 10. The Rice University hosted event will be played on the BlackHorse (North Course), a 72 par, 7,075 yard course.

The two-day format will consist of 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday, with a shotgun start beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day.

Competing for the Maroon and White are Joe Deraney, Jay Giannetto, Kellen Maurer, Codie Mudd and Tim Satow. Craig Horrocks will be competing as an individual.

Other teams participating will be #14 Northwestern, #20 Tennessee, #41 Kansas State, #48 Missouri, #60 Coastal Carolina, #71 North Texas, #87 Virginia, Louisiana-Lafayette, Rice, San Diego, Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio.

Tennessee was crowned team champion with a two-under par showing (291-290-281=862) at the 2002 Rice Intercollegiate. Baylor's Adam Meyer took the 2002 individual title with a three-under par (71-77-65=213). State finished the tournament last season in 11th-place shooting 912 (311-309-292). Leading the Bulldogs, Mudd and Deraney finished in a tie for 22nd (225).

MSU's lone senior Codie Mudd won the 2001 Rice Intercollegiate after shooting a four-under par (66-72-74=212).

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/09/03
Softball
PHOENIX, Ariz. ­ Cal State-Fullerton (6-1) all-American Gina Oaks struck out 11, but was forced to hold off a seventh-inning rally by Mississippi State (2-2) to defeat the Bulldogs, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament hosted by Arizona State.

Three different players recorded hits for the Maroon and White, with freshman Callye Williams reaching base twice on a 1-for-2 showing at the plate with a walk. Lindsay Nelson (1-for-3) and Jennifer Nelson (1-for-2, SAC) also recorded hits for Mississippi State. Kristy Halagarda turned in a 3-for-3 showing at the plate to top the hit category for the Titans, with Oaks providing a pair of RBI on a 1-for-4 tally.

Mississippi State starter Jennifer Nelson (0-1) allowed three earned runs on five Titan hits before being chased in favor of reliever Courtney Frank with one out in the second. Frank allowed just four hits in a scoreless four and two-thirds innings of work. Oaks (4-0), a first team NFCA all-American selection last season, allowed just three hits and struck out 11, including four consecutive at one point, to get the victory.

Cal State-Fullerton scratched the scoreboard with three consecutive one-out hits in the third, scoring on Heather Saltarelli's RBI single up the middle, to take a 1-0 lead, then finished out the game's scoring with the next at-bat on Oaks' two-run double to the gap in left centerfield. State got a pair of runners aboard with one out in the seventh on Williams' single and a miscue by Fullerton, but Oaks shut the door, striking out the game's final two batters to nix the threat.

NO. 10 CAL STATE-FULLERTON 3, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
Mississippi State 000 000 0 - 0 3 0
CSU-Fullerton 030 000 x - 3 9 2
J. Nelson, Frank (2) and Brown; Oaks and Holt. W ­ Oaks (4-0). L ­ J. Nelson (0-1). Save ­ None. 2B - MSU, L. Nelson. CSUF, Oaks, Halagarda, OšHanian. SB ­ MSU, McMichael, Jaspers. CSUF ­ Holt, Saltarelli.

TEMPE, Ariz. ­ Thirteenth-ranked Arizona State (6-1) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to erase a two-run deficit and slip by upset-minded Mississippi State (2-3), 5-4, Saturday evening at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Iyhia McMichael hit 2-for-3 at the plate with a trio of RBI, including her first home run of the campaign, to pace the MSU hitters. Freshman Callye Williams continued her tear at the plate, turning in a 1-for-2 clip with a double and a walk, with Lindsay Nelson (1-for-3), Krystal Tillman (1-for-3) and Jennifer Nelson (1-for-2, R) all recording base hits for the visiting Maroon and White. ASU rightfielder Kristin Farber turned in a 4-for-4 showing at the plate with a pair of runs scored to pace the homestanding Sun Devils.

Mississippi State starter Melissa Massey (2-1) struck out two and allowed five runs on 10 ASU hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs, with freshman Stephanie Owens allowing two hits in a scoreless sixth inning. Arizona State starter Desiree Serrano (3-1) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks, but notched the victory thanks to eight strikeouts.

State got things going quickly, using McMichael's solo homer with two outs in the first to take a 1-0 lead. ASU answered in the bottom half of the inning, however, using a RBI single through the left side by Phelan Wright to knot the score back up. The Sun Devils took their first lead of the game, 2-1, on Wright's RBI groundout in the third, but Mississippi State answered in the fifth, getting a suicide squeeze RBI from Jennifer Jessup and a two-run single by McMichael to forge a two-run cushion, 4-2.

Arizona State led off their half of the fifth with three-straight singles to inch to within one, then tied the score two batters later on Adriana Garcia's RBI single to left field. Ashley Wershkey's one-out, fielder's choice RBI with the next at-bat completed the damage for the Sun Devils.

Mississippi State will complete play in the ASU-hosted Fiesta Bowl Tournament Sunday morning when the Bulldogs suit up to take on 24th-ranked Texas A&M at 8 a.m. (MST) and No. 2 Arizona at 10 a.m.

NO. 13 ARIZONA STATE 5, MISSISSIPPI STATE 4
Mississippi State 100 030 0 - 4 6 2
Arizona State 101 030 x - 5 12 1
Massey, Owens (6) and Waterman; Serrano and Garcia. W ­ Serrano (3-1). L ­ Massey (2-1). Save ­ None. HR ­ MSU, McMichael (1). 2B ­ MSU, Williams (1).

Source: MSU Media Relations

MSU also added two more provisional qualifiers, one on both the men and women's side on the Nutter Field House track in Lexington, Ky.

The Memphis, Tenn., native Davis won the 60m with a 6.61 clocking, breaking teammate Pierre Browne's three-week old record in the event. Davis then took first in the 200m in 20.72, breaking his old record time set at the NCAA Championships last year.

Senior Chris Boldt provisionally qualified for the mile run Saturday, placing third with a time of 4:04.45. This is Boldt's first NCAA qualifying mark in his State career.

On the women's side, Tiffany McWilliams added another school record to her list of accolades, running a 9:26.89 in the 3000m to win the race and provisionally qualify for the NCAAs. She is automatically qualified in the mile and anchored the distance medley relay team that automatically qualified on Friday.

"Each day we're getting better," said head coach Al Schmidt. "We're really pleased with our performances in this meet. Marquis really stepped up today. We're still on target to hit our goals for the year."

Also for the women, freshman Lauren Johnson ranked second in the long jump, leaping 18-8, her best mark of the year.

The MSU men dominated the sprints, with Davis wining both events. Glenn McFadden improved his provisional qualifying 200m time, placing second at 21.04. He also ranked fourth in the 60m (6.86). Senior Dion Crabbe finished third in both the 60 and 200 meters.

Sophomore LaChristopher Lewis won the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 47.63. Keston Nelson came in second in that same competition with a 48.07 mark. Lewis also placed second in the long jump (23-2 3/4).

State's track teams head to Fayetteville, Ark., next for the Tyson Invitational Feb. 14-15.

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs, 3-1 overall, will be meeting a Conference USA opponent for the fourth straight match. MSU has downed C-USA members Southern Miss, UAB and Memphis in its last three outings. The Green Wave is 1-1 after splitting a pair of matches at the Ice Volleys in Minneapolis, Minn., two weeks ago. TU opened that weekend with a 6-1 upset over 30th-ranked Southern Methodist before falling 4-2 to 19th-ranked host Minnesota the next day.

MSU and Tulane have not met in men's tennis since 1984. State holds a 7-4 advantage over the Green Wave in confirmed history (since 1969), but the series is 3-3 in New Orleans during that time. The Bulldogs have claimed wins in the last three meetings between the teams.

State is led by junior all-American Romain Ambert, last season's ITA National Player to Watch. He has been ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in singles. Tulane boasts two players in the current top 70 nationally. Junior Michael Kogan is 32nd while senior Victor Romero is No. 70. Kogan and Romero also team to form the nation's 29th-ranked doubles tandem.

"Tulane has a very experienced team and will be a difficult team to beat on their home court," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "We will have to be well-prepared to pull out a win."

Following Sunday's action, the Bulldogs will ready themselves to take on fifth-ranked, arch-rival Mississippi in the sixth-annual River Hills Cup this Thursday, Feb. 13. That match will begin at 5 p.m. at River Hills Club in Jackson. MSU then returns home Feb. 19 to begin a four-match home stretch against No. 44 South Alabama.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/08/03
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University women's tennis team swept the Blues of Mississippi University for Women 7-0 on Friday, the first sweep for the Lady Bulldogs this season.

In doubles action, MSU's No. 1 duo of Anastasia Kugakolova and Magdi Rekasi downed Courtenay Donnelly and Marisa Simmons in a 8-0 decision, their first sweep of the season. At the No. 2 position, Justyna Switala and Yumi Ueda defeated MUW's Michelle Beukes and Kara Rogers, 8-1. Patricia Assumpcao and Elaine Fagan won by default over Dina Malimon and Lesley Norwood at the No. 3 spot.

At the No. 1 singles position, Rekasi defeated Simmons 6-0, 6-2. MSU freshman Kugakolova improved her singles record to 5-0 after sweeping her opponent Donnelly, 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 Yumi Ueda was the last Lady Bulldog to finish her match. Ueda was victorious over Beukes 6-3, 6-2.

At No. 4, Switala's opponent Jenny Rosen retired after losing the first set, 6-0. Switala improves to 3-0 in singles play. Fagan beat Rogers of MUW 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5. In her first action in Maroon and White, Assumpcao defeated Norwood 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 6 position.

State will take on 42nd ranked Tulane this Sunday at 1 p.m. in its last home match until March 14.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Softball
PHOENIX, Ariz. ­ The Mississippi State Softball team (2-0) got 17 hits and a brilliant performance from a pair of its pitchers as the Bulldogs won their seventh-straight contest at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament with a 9-2 victory over Wisconsin (0-1).

Ten different Bulldogs recorded base hits in the game, with six players recording multi-hit outings. Lindsay Nelson led the team in the hit category, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, with Iyhia McMichael (2-for-3) and Jennifer Nelson (2-for-4) tallying a trio of RBI apiece. Jennifer Jessup (2-for-5) and freshman Callye Williams (1-for-4) both scored a pair of runs. Meghan Reiss (1-for-2) plated Wisconsin's only runs of the game on a two-run homer in the sixth.

Mississippi State starter Melissa Massey (2-0) struck out two and surrendered just two hits in four strong innings of work to get the win for the Bulldogs, with Jennifer Nelson working the final three innings of the game to notch the save. Katie Layne (0-1) worked a complete game for the Badgers, but allowed nine earned runs on 17 hits to take the loss.

State took a quick 2-0 lead in its first at-bat on RBI singles by Jennifer Waterman and Blaire Brown, then extended its lead out to 6-0 on a two-run single by McMichael and RBI singles by Blaire Brown and Lindsay Nelson.

The Bulldogs would add another run to its already insurmountable lead on McMichael's fifth-inning RBI, before Wisconsin finally responded on Reiss's blast. However, MSU would add a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on Jennifer Nelson's two-run triple.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 9, WISCONSIN 2
Wisconsin 000 002 0 - 2 5 1
Mississippi State 240 012 x - 9 17 0
Layne and Gillette; Massey, J. Nelson (5) and Brown. W ­ Massey (2-0). L ­ Layne (0-1). Save ­ J. Nelson (1). 2B ­ MSU, Waterman. 3B ­ MSU, J. Nelson. HR ­ WISC, M. Reiss.

PHOENIX, Ariz. ­ Lisa Wangler's fourth-inning grand slam keyed a five-run inning for No. 4 Nebraska (2-0) as the Cornhuskers rallied to erase a two-run deficit and defeat resilient Mississippi State (2-1), 7-5, Friday evening at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.

Jennifer Waterman went 3-for-4, including a two-run ground rule double in the third inning to pace the Bulldog bats, while Krystal Tillman's sixth-inning solo home run highlighted a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a pair of runs scored for the junior from Romoland, Calif. Senior Brooke Best added a RBI on a 1-for-4 clip. Peaches James (3-for-4, R) led the hit column for the nationally-ranked Cornhuskers, but Wangler stole the show on a 2-for-3 clip, including her first career home run.

MSU starter Courtney Frank (0-1) gave up seven hits and four Nebraska runs in three and one-thirds innings of work to take the loss for the Bulldogs, who used two relievers over the final 11 outs of the game. Melissa Massey allowed two earned runs on one hit in two-thirds innings of work, with freshman Stephanie Owens shining in her first collegiate appearance, giving up just one run on four hits in the final three innings of the game. Summer Tobias (1-0) worked the first six innings of the contest for the Cornhuskers and got the win despite allowing five runs on eight Bulldog hits. Wangler gave up one hit in a seventh-inning relief appearance to get the save.

Nebraska manufactured a third-inning run to take the first lead of the game, but State responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game on Best's RBI single through the left side, then taking the lead on Waterman's blast that nearly cleared the centerfield fence.

Anne Steffan got Nebraska to within one, 3-2, in the top half of the fourth by plating James on a single to the centerfield gap, and then the floodgates opened. With two runners on, Massey walked Jessica Yoachim to juice the bases, then succumbed to Wangler's heroics.

State got its fourth run of the game on a Nebraska miscue in the fourth, but the Cornhuskers stretched its lead back to three, 7-4, on Kim Ogee's RBI single in the sixth. Tillmanšs leadoff homer in the sixth sparked State temporarily, but the Nebraska staff held back the comeback threat.

Mississippi State will resume play at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament on Saturday afternoon, taking on No. 10 Cal State-Fullerton at 2:30 p.m. (MST) and No. 13 Arizona State at 5:30.

NO. 4 NEBRASKA 7, MISSISSIPPI STATE 5
Nebraska 001 501 0 - 7 12 3
Mississippi State 003 101 0 - 5 9 1
Tobias, Wangler (7) and Burgess; Frank, Massey (4), Owens (5) and Waterman. W ­ Tobias (1-0). L ­ Frank (0-1). Save ­ Wangler (1). HR ­ NEB, Wangler. MSU, Tillman. 2B ­ NEB, Wangler, Tannahill. MSU, Waterman (2).

Source: MSU Media Relations

Track and Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mississippi State's women's indoor track team blew past the competition in the distance medley relay, setting a new school and stadium record on day one of the Rod McCravy Memorial.

The DMR team of Jennifer McPherson, Nicole Dunn, Zita Magloire and Tiffany McWilliams clocked an 11:18.04 on the oversized track at Nutter Field House. That is 20 seconds better than the MSU record set in 1997 and 15 seconds better than the Florida team that set the record in 1996. The time automatically qualifies the team for the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

"The girls ran superb," head coach Al Schmidt said after the race. "We're just ecstatic about the start of the meet. But both teams have more to do tomorrow."

On the men's side, sophomore J.D. Erickson placed fifth in the weight throw with a toss of 59-7 3/4, a season-best. Freshman Trey Hardee also ranked seventh in the pole vault, clearing 15-6 1/4.

The Rod McCravy Memorial concludes Saturday on the campus of the University of Kentucky. The men's high jump starts the day at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/05/03
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Jennifer Jessup's base-clearing double to right field in the bottom of the second inning broke open an otherwise close game as the Mississippi State softball team (1-0) stretched its winning streak in season openers to four with a 3-1 victory over Southern Miss (0-1) Tuesday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

Jessup turned in two of MSU's five total hits with a 2-for-2 performance, with Iyhia McMichael, Kate Jaspers and Brooke Best each turning in one hit apiece for State. Designated player Sarah Boyd provided USM's only run of the game on an RBI single in the top of the seventh.

Massey (1-0) looked masterful from the get-go, retiring the first nine batters in order while recording four strikeouts. The sophomore scattered four hits over six and one-thirds innings of work, striking out five, to notch the win. Courtney Frank worked the final two outs of the game to pick up the save for the Maroons. USM starter Jessica Holaway (0-1) took the tough-luck loss for the Golden Eagles, surrendering a trio of unearned runs, despite striking out six.

The win marked No. 710 for MSU head coach Jay Miller, but his first as a Bulldog. The victory also stretched State's winning streak in home openers to five and also marked its fifth consecutive victory in its home stadium.

With two outs and a runner on in the third, Erinne Milligan mishandled a sharply hit ball from Jennifer Nelson's bat to allow MSU to juice the bases. Jessup, State's leadoff hitter, doubled with the next at-bat to bring home all three runs and put the 'Dogs up for good. Southern Miss put together its first real threat in the fourth, getting a pair of runners into scoring position for Preseason all-Conference USA selecting Tammy Edwards, but Massey struck out the senior to shut the door.

Southern Miss got its only run of the game in the seventh on Boyd's RBI single that chased Massey, but Frank held down the rally in the game's final two outs.

Mississippi State will return to action this weekend when the Bulldogs travel to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl Tournament. The Bulldogs will face five top 25 teams at one of the nation's premiere tournament, including a trio of top 10 teams.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 3, SOUTHERN MISS 1
Southern Miss 000 000 1 - 1
Mississippi State 030 000 x - 3
Holaway and Smith; Massey, Frank (7) and Waterman. W ­ Massey (1-0). L ­ Holaway (0-1). Save ­ Frank (1). 2B ­ MSU, Jessup (1).

Source: MSU Media Relations

The Bulldogs are tied for sixth with fellow Southeastern Conference member South Carolina. Both project to score 24 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

The SEC dominates the rankings, with all 11 men's teams making the list. Conference teams hold seven of the top 10 slots on the charts.

Head coach Al Schmidt's squad travels to Lexington, Ky., for the Rod McCravy Memorial on Feb. 7-8.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/03/03
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State softball team will open its season at home for the first time since 2001 as the Bulldogs suit up to host cross-state rival Southern Mississippi in a 3 p.m. contest on Tuesday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.

State will look to extend its winning streak in season openers to four, with its last loss coming at the hands of Northwestern State (L, 1-0) in the 1999 opener. The Maroon and White have also won four straight home opening contests, with Northwestern State taking a 3-1 contest from the 'Dogs in their 1998 home opener.

Tuesday's game will mark the 27th meeting between MSU and USM since 1982, and the ninth since Southern Miss reintegrated the sport back into their varsity program in 1999. Although Mississippi State enjoys a 19-7 series edge, Southern Miss has taken five of the last eight meetings, including two of the three matchups last season. The Golden Eagles took a 3-0 decision in the second half of a Hattiesburg twinbill in the last meeting.

Mississippi State returns eight position starters and three starting pitchers off a 36-31 season that saw the Bulldogs qualify for the second NCAA Regional berth in three seasons. The Bulldogs lost just two starters off that team and return two-time all-SEC performer Iyhia McMichael, who hit .333 with four home runs and 48 RBI for the Maroon and White, as well as swiping a school-record 36 bases.

Southern Mississippi returns five position starters and one pitcher off a team that went 28-35 just one year ago. Three Lady Eagles ­ infielder Tammy Edwards, outfielder Amanda Brown and pitcher Jessica Holaway ­ were recently named to the preseason all-Conference USA team. Brown was named to the C-USA all-tournament team last season. She led the squad in runs scored (25) and stolen bases (20). Holaway tossed four shutouts last season, posting team-highs in wins (15) and strikeouts (136).

The game with the Golden Eagles will mark the Mississippi State debut of head coach Jay Miller as well. Miller, the NCAA's 13th winningest active coach with a 709-415 career record in 20 seasons at the Division I level, took over the reigns of the Maroon and White in August. Prior to coming to Mississippi State, Miller amassed a 556-309 record in 15 seasons as head coach of Missouri, leading the Tigers to two conference championships, five NCAA Regional appearances and a pair of berths into the NCAA Women's College World Series.

Following Tuesday's game, Mississippi State will travel to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in which the Bulldogs will face a host of the country's top opposition. State will take on five top 25 teams in Phoenix, including contests against No. 2 Arizona, No. 5 Nebraska and No. 10 Cal State-Fullerton. Thirteenth-ranked Arizona State, 24th-ranked Texas A&M and Wisconsin will complete the 'Dogs slate.

Admission to all 2003 Mississippi State softball home games is free of charge.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Spurred by some solid play in both singles and doubles, Mississippi State's 25th-ranked men's tennis team posted a 5-2 victory over 67th-ranked UAB Sunday afternoon on the MSU campus. The win, which was State's 10th straight over the Blazers, moved MSU to 2-1 overall. UAB fell to 1-2.

State claimed the opening point of the match with impressive 8-2 victories at the No. 1 and 2 doubles positions. Bulldogs Romain Ambert and Rene-Charles Combette downed Blazers Ivan Andreev and Kristijan Mitrovski at No. 1 while MSU's pair of Florent Girod and Jerome Le Belicard was victorious at No. 2 over UAB's Andre Maier and Dino Mancarella.

In singles, the Bulldogs jumped out to a one-set lead in four of the six matches and would ride those leads to victories in all four contests.

Putting State up 2-0 was Ambert, as the junior all-American had little trouble at the No. 1 spot, dispensing Patrick Suhrbier 6-0, 6-1. Ambert improved to 20-5 at the No. 1 position during his Bulldog career.

MSU gained a 3-0 lead following a solid 6-2, 6-2 win from Le Belicard over UAB's Andreev at No. 2. Providing the match clincher for State would be the rookie Girod. The Belfort, France, native held off the Blazers' Mitrovski 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 4 spot.

UAB would claim triumphs in two of the three remaining matches. At No. 6, UAB's Sanzaruz Zaman downed Bulldog true freshman Luc Maasdorp 6-3, 6-4. Junior Max Fomine provided State's fifth and final point at No.3, claiming a three-set affair from Maier 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

In the last match on court, Bulldog Matt Armstrong and Blazer Ruben Zrihen would produce a dandy, a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. After Zrihen took a close first set 6-4 and was serving for the second, Armstrong broke back and eventually forced a tiebreaker, which he won 7-4. The players battled another hour in the third, with Zrihen finally prevailing 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4.

"I am very happy with our effort today," MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said. "We battled and played much more focused at every position and did what we needed to do to win the match. Now we have to regroup and prepare for another very tough match with Memphis Wednesday."

On Wednesday, State will closeout its current four-match homestand, hosting No. 54 Memphis at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs and Tigers have not met on the tennis court since 1988. After a road match at No. 40 Tulane Sunday and a battle with sixth-ranked, arch-rival Mississippi in the River Hills Cup in Jackson on Feb. 13, the Bulldogs will return home Feb. 19 to welcome 43rd-ranked South Alabama.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/02/03
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University women's tennis team was victorious over the Lady Blazers of UAB Saturday in a 6-1 decision.

MSU won the doubles point for the match with victories from the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. At No. 2, Elaine Fagan and Yumi Ueda won 8-6 over Lady Blazers' Femke deBoer and Natascha Immele. Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala defeated Julia Hoch and Ornischa Maier-Knapp 8-2 at No. 3. Anastasia Kugakolova and Magdi Rekasi lost a close match to UAB's Femke deBoer and Natascha Immele 8-6.

The Lady Bulldogs needed three sets to win four of their six singles matches. Hirt, at No. 2, was victorious over deBoer 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Kugakolova won her three-set match, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, over Ernst. The final Lady Bulldog to finish her match was No. 4 Ueda. Ueda defeated Maier-Knapp 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. Switala came back from down 0-3 in the third set to win her match against Hoch, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5. At No. 6, Fagan defeated Dellarciprete, 7-5, 6-0. Rekasi, at the No. 1 position, fell 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 to UAB's No. 1 Immele.

"I am really excited that we won today," said head coach Tracy Lane. "UAB really tested us, and it was very evident in singles. We won most of our matches today because we played with a lot of heart."

The Lady Bulldogs will be in action next at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on Friday, Feb. 7, to host in-state foe Mississippi University for Women. Start time is set for 2:30 p.m.

Source: MSU Media Relations

02/01/03
Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ The Mississippi State University women's tennis team defeated the Lady Tigers of Memphis in a 4-1 decision on Friday. Doubles action was played at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and singles were moved indoors to MSU's McCarthy Gymnasium due to rain.

Statešs No. 1 duo of Anastasia Kugakolova and Magdi Rekasi took on the 56th-ranked Memphis tandem of Sabrina Lindemann and Monica Gonzalez-Gordo. Kugakolova and Rekasi were up 5-2 in the match, but Memphis fought back and tied the match at 8-8 sending them to a tie-breaker. Memphis won the match 9-8(0).

No. 2 Elaine Fagan and Yumi Ueda won their match against Lady Tigers Marlene Dirnstorfer and Sumitra Rao, 8-4. Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala also came out on top with a 8-2 victory over Andrea Feichtinger and Viktoria Gruber.

After the match was moved indoors, both coaches agreed that the first team to reach four points would take the match. In addition, a super tie-breaker would be used in case of a third set. At the No. 1 position, Rekasi defeated Lindemann 1-6, 6-3, 11-9, playing the only super tie-breaker of the match. Hirt fell 6-1, 7-5 to Memphis' Gonzalez-Gordo at No. 2. In No. 3 singles action, Kugakolova defeated Rao 6-3, 7-5. Ueda's victory over Gruber, 6-3, 6-1, gave the Lady Bulldogs their fourth point.

Switala was scheduled to play Dirnstorfer at No.5, and Fagan was to play Feichtinger at No. 6.

The Lady Bulldogs will host the UAB Lady Blazers in a 1 p.m. match at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on Saturday.