Feb. 12, 2006
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's tennis team came out fighting hard today as they fought a long battle with Mississippi State. The Mustangs came out victorious as they downed MSU, 5-2. SMU advances to 6-2 on the season.
"That was a really good win for us," head coach Rob Howarth said. "They girls played really well. We came out a little slow in the doubles, but came out strong in the singles and fought very hard."
SMU was not able to pull out the doubles point as the No. 2 and 3 spots fell to MSU. At the No. 1 spot, the duo of Natalia Bubien and Svetlana Kouzmenko overcame Anastasia Kugakolova and Polina Kokoulina of MSU, 8-5.
In singles action, the Mustangs made MSU work to stay in the game. At the No. 1 spot, Bubien and Kugakolova battled it out till the end, but Kugakolova was able to hold off Bubien's rallies. At the No. 2 singles, Kouzmenko took care of her opponent, defeating her 6-2, 6-0.
The No. 3 singles of Georgiana Marta and Renee Joseph played long into the afternoon as their game lasted about an hour longer than the others. Marta put away the first set, 6-4, but fell in the second set, 4-6. Marta stayed strong and took the win, 11-9 in the tiebreaker.
Kristen Reid held her own at the No. 4 spot as she won 6-4, 6-4. Brooke Rambally won at the No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-4 as well as Halley Rambally at the No. 6 slot, 6-1, 6-3.
The Mustangs will return to the nets Wed., Feb. 15 against TCU at 6 p.m.
Tennis Match ResultsMississippi State vs SMUFeb 12, 2006 at Dallas, Texas
SMU 5, Mississippi State 2
Singles competition1. Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. Natalia Bubien (SMU) 6-4, 6-42. Svetlana Kouzmenko (SMU) def. Marina Banikova (MSU) 6-2, 6-03. Georgiana Marta (SMU) def. Renee Joseph (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 11-94. Kristen Reid (SMU) def. Daniela Juskova (MSU) 6-4, 6-45. Brooke Rambally (SMU) def. Elna de Villiers (MSU) 6-0, 6-46. Halley Rambally (SMU) def. Tatiana Feit (MSU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition1. Natalia Bubien/Svetlana Kouzmenko (SMU) def. Anastasia Kugakolova/Polina Kokoulina (MSU) 8-52. Elna de Villiers/Marina Banikova (MSU) def. Georgiana Marta/Kristen Reid (SMU) 8-23. Daniela Juskova/Renee Joseph (MSU) def. Brooke Rambally/Halley Rambally (SMU) 8-6
