Mississippi State won every completed match in straight sets in a doubleheader sweep Saturday against Bellarmine and Samford, starting the 2025 season with a pair of 4-0 victories.
The Bulldogs took the doubles point against the Knights on a 6-1 victory at No. 3 from sophomore Chiara Di Genova and senior Alessia Tagliente, and a 6-4 win from the No. 1 duo of freshman Gianna Oboniye and sophomore Athina Pitta. Oboniye made quick work of her opponent at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-2. Di Genova and sophomore Jayna Clemens each earned second-set shutouts at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively, to clinch the match for MSU.
“We did a really good job today of focusing on what was in front of us and really working hard on the identity that we want to create on the court,” Bulldogs head coach Chris Hooshyar said.
Clemens and freshman Carolina Troiano were shut out at No. 2 doubles later Saturday against Samford, but Oboniye and Pitta won 6-0 at the top spot, and Di Genova and Tagliente clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory at No. 3. Tagliente, Clemens and Troiano all earned straight-set wins in singles as MSU wrapped things up.
The Bulldogs (2-0) are off this week before returning to action on Jan. 31 with home matches against Tulane and Alabama A&M.
“It felt good,” Tagliente said. “It gave us a lot of confidence because of all the hard work we did in the fall is paying off. Everyone was happy with the day, but this is just the beginning of our rise. We’re just going to keep working very hard and see it week by week.”
11th-ranked MSU men still yet to drop a set
Make it five straight 7-0 victories for the No. 11 Bulldogs to open the season, after MSU defeated Chattanooga twice on Friday and beat both Troy and Alabama State on Sunday.
The Bulldogs (5-0) have two doubles teams in the top 25 nationally, and the No. 9 pairing of juniors Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez earned two 6-0 victories against the Mocs. Freshman Niccolo Baroni and junior Mario Martinez Serrano, ranked 20th, twice beat their opponents from Chattanooga 6-2 and defeated Troy’s No. 2 doubles pairing 6-1.
In singles, head coach Matt Roberts used the doubleheaders as a chance to give everyone on the roster a chance to play as he tries to figure out the final spot in the lineup. Junior Michal Novansky only competed in doubles last year after returning from an injury, but he was in the lineup for all four weekend matches at either No. 4 or No. 5 singles and won in straight sets each time.
“It was pretty tough at the start,” Novansky said. “I had a lot of good matches, especially in the fall, and now it’s kind of different coming back into the dual matches. I’m trying my best, I’m working hard with the guys, and I’m really glad I was doing well.”
MSU will host the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The Bulldogs battle Pepperdine on Saturday at 10 a.m. and either North Carolina State or LSU the following day.
“We’re trying to figure out who’s going to be a trustworthy guy for us at (No. 6 singles),” Roberts said. “We have some good options. They might feel a little pressure to step up and do well because they all want to be it, but we have a deeper team this year, and they’re handling that opportunity well.”
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