Mississippi State’s 15th-ranked team secured their advancement to the second round of the NCAA Championships by defeating Alabama State 4-0 in the Starkville Regional’s opening round. Despite being moved indoors due to thunderstorms, the Bulldogs displayed solid performance across all six courts, as noted by head coach Matt Roberts, who expressed hope for further improvement in the upcoming matches.
This victory marked the second consecutive year MSU triumphed over Alabama State in postseason play at home. Now, they are set to face Middle Tennessee State for the second time in the second round. The Blue Raiders, seeded third and ranked 37th, overcame Georgia Tech 4-1 and will challenge Mississippi State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Reflecting on their previous encounters, Roberts acknowledged the challenge posed by Middle Tennessee State, particularly highlighting their strong doubles play and energy. The Bulldogs, having experienced both victory and defeat against them, anticipate a tough match but remain confident in their abilities.
Friday’s win against Alabama State was anchored by another successful doubles performance from MSU, securing their seventh consecutive doubles point and enhancing their record to 13-3 when claiming this advantage. Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez, followed by Nemanja Malesevic and Michal Novasky, set the tone with decisive victories. Jovanovic, ranked 48th in singles, continued the momentum with a dominant win, supported by straight-set victories from Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes and Dusan Milanovic, who secured the match with his sixth win of the season.
