May 12, 2017

NORMAN, Okla. (SMU/DALLAS)— The No. 38 SMU men's tennis team fell to No. 18 Mississippi State, 4-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon. The Mustangs finished the season with a 13-12 record overall, while the Bulldogs improved to 21-8 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships.

"Mississippi State is very good," head coach Carl Neufeld said. "Our guys played very well. I'm proud of Markus Kerner and Yates Johnson for beating the No. 8 doubles team in the country. I congratulate Mississippi State and our guys. We played one of the toughest schedules in the country."

In doubles action, SMU's Yates Johnson and Markus Kerner defeated the No. 8 doubles team in the country, Mississippi State's Braun and Foshey, 6-3 on Court 1. Julio Olaya and Tony Russell forced a tiebreak on Court 3 versus Mississippi State's Borges and Rakic but fell 7-6 (7-3) giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead after the conclusion of doubles.

In singles competition, Russell took Mississippi State's Niclas Braun to a 5-5 tie but eventually dropped the first set 7-5. Yates Johnson defeated the Bulldogs' Giovanni Oradini 6-3 in the first set.

The No. 38 Mustangs finished the season 13-12 overall and 2-3 in American Athletic Conference play after being ranked as high as No. 21 on February 8. Two Mustangs were ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) singles rankings throughout the season and one SMU doubles team was included in the ITA doubles rankings. Ronald Slobodchikov is the No. 68 ranked singles player in the nation, after reaching as high as No. 49 on February 8, while Hunter Johnson holds the No. 96 spot after reaching No. 44 on February 8. Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson are currently ranked the No. 28 doubles team in the country after reaching as high as No. 14 on April 4.

Neufeld earned his 400th victory at SMU this season when the Mustangs defeated No. 19 Arkansas, 4-3, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Neufeld holds the most wins among active head coaches at SMU with 411 and holds 591 total victories.

"We had a very successful year," Neufeld said. "But our biggest success is eight guys are graduating either on time or early and they are off to do big things."

Tennis Match Results
SMU vs Mississippi State
May 12, 2017 at Norman, Okla.
(Headington Family Tennis Center)
#18 Mississippi State 4, #38 SMU 0

Singles competition
1. #4 Nuno Borges (MSST) def. #68 Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Mate Cutura (MSST) vs. Samm Butler (SMU) 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
3. #115 Strahinja Rakic (MSST) def. Markus Kerner (SMU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Niclas Braun (MSST) vs. Tony Russell (SMU) 7-5, 1-0, unfinished
5. Giovanni Oradini (MSST) vs. Yates Johnson (SMU) 3-6, 4-1, unfinished
6. Simon Baudry (MSST) def. Julio Olaya (SMU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Yates Johnson/Markus Kerner (SMU) def. Niclas Braun/Trevor Foshey (MSST) 6-3
2. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSST) def. Samm Butler/Arky Slobodkins (SMU) 6-2
3. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSST) def. Julio Olaya/Tony Russell (SMU) 7-6 (7-3)

Match Notes:
SMU 13-11; National ranking #38
Mississippi State 20-8; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,1,3)
NCAA Championships - First Round (Norman, Okla.)
Played outdoors