Saturday, April 29
Knoxville, Tenn.
12:00 PM
Texas A&M
3
vs
4
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
Photo by: Bill Kallenberg
Mississippi State Trips Up Texas A&M in SEC Semifinals
Apr 29, 2017 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – The No. 11 Texas A&M fell to No. 18 Mississippi State, 4-3, at the Barksdale Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee Saturday afternoon in the SEC Tournament semifinals. The top-seeded Aggies fell to 19-6 on the season, while the Bulldogs (20-7) advanced to Sunday's tournament finals match against No. 13 Georgia (17-7) at noon (CT) in the Volunteer State.
Despite the loss, Texas A&M stands at 9-3 all-time in the SEC tournament and have advanced to the semifinals in all five tournaments since joining the league in the 2012-13 season, capturing the 2014 and 2015 tournament trophies.
The Aggies stormed out to a 1-0 lead after doubles play concluded, winning by identical 6-2 score lines on courts one and two. Jordi Arconada and Hady Habib made quick work of Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter on court two, earning their second win at the SEC Tournament and improving to 5-3 as a duo.
No. 20 Arthur Rinderknech and AJ Catanzariti earned their second top-10 victory this month, besting No. 9 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey on the top court to secure the point. The junior pair moved to 6-0 against ranked teams this year, winning their fifth straight match.
Mississippi State put pressure on the Aggies in singles play, winning four of six first sets. The Maroon & White were able to push the lead out to 3-0 as No. 6 Rinderknech claimed his highest-ranked win of his career, topping No. 3 Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-2 on court one. Shortly thereafter, Valentin Vacherot increased the lead with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Braun on court four.
The Bulldogs bounced back to take the final four points of the day and advance to the final. Cutura ended Arconada's 18-match win-streak with a 6-4, 6-4 win on court two followed by No. 111 Strahinja Rakic edging Catanzariti 7-6, 7-6 on court three. Simon Baudry evened the team match at 3-3 as he outlasted Max Lunkin 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 on court six. The Bulldogs clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 win by Giovanni Oradini over Habib on court five.
The Aggies will now await the NCAA Selection Show to for their NCAA Tournament seeding and opponents. The show is scheduled to take place Tuesday, May 2, at 4p.m. The Aggies have appeared in 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and hosted first and second round matches in each of the previous four seasons at the George P Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
Post Game Quotes
Steve Denton, Texas A&M Men's Tennis Head Coach
About the match…
"We are pleased with how we came out in the doubles with lots of energy and we knew that Mississippi State would be really good and not just roll over after dropping the doubles point. The last time we played them it was really close and that happened again today. We got out in front at 3-0, but couldn't quite get over the hump and put them away. Our guys battled after losing some first sets trying to put us in position to get the win, but just couldn't quite get it done today. Give Mississippi State a lot of credit, they fought hard today and were able to win three matches in three days here in Knoxville. They just played a little bit better than we did today. We will regroup and get back to work to get ready for the NCAA Tournament."
On Rinderknech's win over Borges…
"Arthur started a little tentative in singles, but once got the rhythm on his serve and return game he did a great job on dominating that match. These types of matches are always a little tough, points here or there can swing the match and Arthur did a good job of taking advantage of those points today. He looked really sharp and looked really aggressive which started in the doubles. I thought him and AJ were really good in their doubles match today and he was able to carry that over into his singles match. Once he got that first set under his belt he was able to relax a little bit and play at a really high level."
Tennis Match Results
Tennessee vs Texas A&M
Apr 29, 2017 at Knoxville, TN
(Barksdale Stadium)
# 18 Mississippi State 4, #11 Texas A&M 3
Singles competition
1. #6 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. #3 Nuno Borges (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Mate Cutura (MSU) def. #47 Jordi Arconada (TAMU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #111 Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6)
4. Valentin Vacherot (TAMU) def. Niclas Braun (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Hady Habib (TAMU) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4
6. Simon Baudry (MSU) def. Max Lunkin (TAMU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #20 Arthur Rinderknech/AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) def. #9 Niclas Braun/Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-2
2. Jordi Arconada/Hady Habib (TAMU) def. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) 6-2
3. Aleksandre Bakshi/Max Lunkin (TAMU) vs. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) 3-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Texas A&M 19-6; National ranking #11
Mississippi State 20-7; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1); Singles (1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 5)
SEC Tournament - Semifinals
Despite the loss, Texas A&M stands at 9-3 all-time in the SEC tournament and have advanced to the semifinals in all five tournaments since joining the league in the 2012-13 season, capturing the 2014 and 2015 tournament trophies.
The Aggies stormed out to a 1-0 lead after doubles play concluded, winning by identical 6-2 score lines on courts one and two. Jordi Arconada and Hady Habib made quick work of Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter on court two, earning their second win at the SEC Tournament and improving to 5-3 as a duo.
No. 20 Arthur Rinderknech and AJ Catanzariti earned their second top-10 victory this month, besting No. 9 Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey on the top court to secure the point. The junior pair moved to 6-0 against ranked teams this year, winning their fifth straight match.
Mississippi State put pressure on the Aggies in singles play, winning four of six first sets. The Maroon & White were able to push the lead out to 3-0 as No. 6 Rinderknech claimed his highest-ranked win of his career, topping No. 3 Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-2 on court one. Shortly thereafter, Valentin Vacherot increased the lead with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Braun on court four.
The Bulldogs bounced back to take the final four points of the day and advance to the final. Cutura ended Arconada's 18-match win-streak with a 6-4, 6-4 win on court two followed by No. 111 Strahinja Rakic edging Catanzariti 7-6, 7-6 on court three. Simon Baudry evened the team match at 3-3 as he outlasted Max Lunkin 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 on court six. The Bulldogs clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 win by Giovanni Oradini over Habib on court five.
The Aggies will now await the NCAA Selection Show to for their NCAA Tournament seeding and opponents. The show is scheduled to take place Tuesday, May 2, at 4p.m. The Aggies have appeared in 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and hosted first and second round matches in each of the previous four seasons at the George P Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
Post Game Quotes
Steve Denton, Texas A&M Men's Tennis Head Coach
About the match…
"We are pleased with how we came out in the doubles with lots of energy and we knew that Mississippi State would be really good and not just roll over after dropping the doubles point. The last time we played them it was really close and that happened again today. We got out in front at 3-0, but couldn't quite get over the hump and put them away. Our guys battled after losing some first sets trying to put us in position to get the win, but just couldn't quite get it done today. Give Mississippi State a lot of credit, they fought hard today and were able to win three matches in three days here in Knoxville. They just played a little bit better than we did today. We will regroup and get back to work to get ready for the NCAA Tournament."
On Rinderknech's win over Borges…
"Arthur started a little tentative in singles, but once got the rhythm on his serve and return game he did a great job on dominating that match. These types of matches are always a little tough, points here or there can swing the match and Arthur did a good job of taking advantage of those points today. He looked really sharp and looked really aggressive which started in the doubles. I thought him and AJ were really good in their doubles match today and he was able to carry that over into his singles match. Once he got that first set under his belt he was able to relax a little bit and play at a really high level."
Tennis Match Results
Tennessee vs Texas A&M
Apr 29, 2017 at Knoxville, TN
(Barksdale Stadium)
# 18 Mississippi State 4, #11 Texas A&M 3
Singles competition
1. #6 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. #3 Nuno Borges (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Mate Cutura (MSU) def. #47 Jordi Arconada (TAMU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #111 Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6)
4. Valentin Vacherot (TAMU) def. Niclas Braun (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Hady Habib (TAMU) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4
6. Simon Baudry (MSU) def. Max Lunkin (TAMU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #20 Arthur Rinderknech/AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) def. #9 Niclas Braun/Trevor Foshey (MSU) 6-2
2. Jordi Arconada/Hady Habib (TAMU) def. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) 6-2
3. Aleksandre Bakshi/Max Lunkin (TAMU) vs. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) 3-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Texas A&M 19-6; National ranking #11
Mississippi State 20-7; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1); Singles (1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 5)
SEC Tournament - Semifinals
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Media Availability: Steve Denton
Monday, October 13
Baylor Postgame: Steve Denton, Theo Papamalamis, Alan Magadan
Sunday, May 04
Rice Postgame: Togan Tokac
Saturday, May 03
NCAA Tournament Preview: Steve Denton, Raphael Perot
Tuesday, April 30
