Bulldogs Cap Successful First Day In Athens

ATHENS, Ga. - The 2012-13 season started off right for the Mississippi State Men's Tennis squad as four players, including two doubles teams, advanced to the second round of the Southern Intercollegiate Championships Friday.

"We saw good things out there today by everyone," coach Per Nilsson said. "However, there are still areas we want to continue to improve on and things we want to change."

In singles action, Bulldog senior James Chaudry, who was ranked 41st nationally in the ITA Preseason Rankings released Friday and a 5-8 alphabetical seed in Division I, defeated Mercer's Arnav Mohanty, 6-2, 3-0(ret.). MSU's Malte Stropp, another Bulldog gaining a national preseason ranking at No. 47 and also a 5-8 seed, also won in straight sets, defeating East Tennessee State's Juan Ramirez, 6-1, 6-3.

For State's other returnees, Zach White defeated Southeastern Conference foe Stefan Lindmark of Ole Miss 7-6(3), 6-3. White will face Nathan Pasha, a 9-16 seed from host Georgia, tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET. Senior Ethan Wilkinson dropped his match in Division II singles to North Florida's Fernando Costa, 7-6(7), 6-2.

Possibly most impressive from Friday's play was the tenacity shown by the Bulldog newcomers participating in the tourney. The London, England, native Jordan Angus defeated Clemson's Hunter Harrington in a thrilling three set match, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3). Angus will face the task of taking down the No. 1 seed in the tournament, Bob van Overbeek of Florida in tomorrow's second round.

Bulldog rookie Romain Bogaert came back after losing his first set to force a third against Vanderbilt's Gonzales Austin, but eventually fell, losing 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Freshman Pedro Dumont battled back after losing the first set but could not pull it out in a second set tiebreaker, losing to Jesus Bandres of ETSU 6-4, 7-6(7).

In doubles action late Friday, the fourth-seeded MSU team of Chaudry and Stropp took down Clemson's Gerardo Meza and Ayrton Wibowo in a tough battle, 8-6. Bulldogs White and Wilkinson were down a break late in the match, but could not break back against Mercer's duo of Victor Diaz and Joao Pagan, dropping their match 8-6.

The freshmen duo of Bogaert and Dumont did not play today due to scheduling issues. They will start play tomorrow against an opponent yet to be determined.

Play at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships will resume Saturday at 8 a.m. ET.

MSU RESULTS AT THE Southern Intercollegiate Championships

September 7, 2012 - Athens, Ga.

SINGLES

Division I - First Round
#41 James Chaudry (MSU) (5-8) def. Arnav Mohanty (Mercer) 6-2, 3-0(ret.); #47 Malte Stropp (MSU) (5-8) def. Juan Ramirez (ETSU) 6-1, 6-3; Jordan Angus (MSU) def. Hunter Harrington (Clemson) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3); Zach White (MSU) def. Stefan Lindmark (Ole Miss) 7-6(3), 6-3; Jesus Bandres (ETSU) def. Pedro Dumont (MSU) 6-4, 7-6(7); Gonzales Austin (Vanderbilt) def. Romain Bogaert (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5

Division II - First Round

Fernando Costa (North Florida) def. Ethan Wilkinson (MSU) 7-6(7), 6-2

DOUBLES

Division I - First Round

Chaudry/Stropp (MSU) (4) def. Meza/Wibowo (Clemson) 8-6; Dias/Pagan (Mercer) def. White/Wilkinson (MSU) 8-6