March 9, 2008
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The No. 23 Auburn men's tennis team lost the doubles point for just the third time this season Sunday as the Tigers (6-5, 2-2 SEC) dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 49 Mississippi State (5-5, 1-3 SEC).
"That was a pathetic effort in doubles, by far our worst of the season" said head coach Eric Shore. "Not to take anything away from Mississippi State, they played a good match today, but we were not ready."
Auburn was swept in doubles for the first time this season. Following a 3-3 split in singles, the Bulldogs were able to pull out their first SEC win of the season.
"I take full responsibility for today," said Shore. "We were not ready at the start of the match. In singles, we dug ourselves way too deep of a hole and came up short."
MSU got off to a quick start as Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux teamed up to defeat Alexey Tsyrenov and Terence Nugent in No. 1 doubles, 8-2. Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump followed with an 8-4 win over Auburn's Alex Petropoulos and Pawel Dilaj in No. 3 doubles to clinch the point and the early 1-0 lead.
Ryan Farlow and Pjotrs Necajevs completed the doubles sweep for the Bulldogs, downing Tim Puetz and Lukas Marsoun, 8-4, in No. 2 doubles.
Mississippi State kept rolling in singles play, starting with Antonio Lastre defeating Petropoulos, 6-1, 6-4, in No. 6 singles. Frayssinoux, ranked 32nd in the nation, extended the MSU lead to 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-2, win over No. 114 Puetz in No. 2 singles.
Dilaj followed by scoring Auburn's first point of the day with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Artem Kuznetsov in No. 5 singles, breaking a three-match losing streak.
"I was really happy to see Pawel get back on track," said Shore. "But, I continue to be disappointed in the lower half of the lineup. They are not getting the job done."
Mississippi State quickly put any chance of an Auburn comeback at bay as Farlow sealed the win with a 7-6 (8), 6-3 win over Nugent in No. 4 singles, putting the Bulldogs ahead, 4-1.
Auburn was able to salvage wins in the final two singles matches with Tsyrenov and Marsoun earning victories.
Tsyrenov, ranked 89th in the country, went three sets with No. 26 Bjelica for the 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win in No. 1 singles. The win is the seventh singles victory in a row for Tsyrenov, giving him an 8-1 record in dual matches this season.
Marsoun defeated Doerr, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, for his victory in No. 3 singles, closing the gap to 4-3 in MSU's win.
Auburn returns to action this week with the Blue / Gray Tournament in Montgomery, Ala. Action in the four-day tournament is set to begin Thursday, March 13 at the Lagoon Park Tennis Complex.
Tennis Match Results
Auburn vs Mississippi State
Mar 09, 2008 at Starkville, Miss.
#49 Mississippi State 4, #23 Auburn 3
Singles competition
1. #89 Alexey Tsyrenov (AU) def. #26 Ivan Bjelica (MSU) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
2. #32 Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) def. #114 Tim Puetz (AU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Lukas Marsoun (AU) def. Chris Doerr (MSU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
4. Ryan Farlow (MSU) def. Terence Nugent (AU) 7-6 (10-8), 6-3
5. Pawel Dilaj (AU) def. Artem Kuznetsov (MSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Alex Petropoulos (AU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Ivan Bjelica/Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) def. Alexey Tsyrenov/Terence Nugent (AU) 8-2
2. Ryan Farlow/Pjotrs Necajevs (MSU) def. Tim Puetz/Lukas Marsoun (AU) 8-4
3. Chris Doerr/Tanner Stump (MSU) def. Alex Petropoulos/Pawel Dilaj (AU) 8-4
Match Notes:
Auburn 6-5, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #23
Mississippi State 5-5, 1-3 SEC; National ranking #49
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,5,4,3,1)
T-4:10 A-105