The No. 48 Lady Bulldog netters took to the court to do battle with in-state foe, the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Center on Friday afternoon. State took all nine matches against Southern Miss, improving the Lady Bulldogs to 2-1 on the season–keeping USM winless on the year.
MSU’s sweep started with Elaine Fagan and Camila Sagae winning the first doubles match of the afternoon. Fagan and Sagae defeated the USM duo of Shawny Price and Jennifer Sibille.
State’s Justyna Switala and Yumi Ueda downed the Golden Eagle tandem of Sara Anne Harrison and Olivia Berry in an 8-0 win.
MSU’s No. 3 duo of Ashley Dodgen teamed and Magdolna Rekasi defeated Pam Miller and Jessica Olson 8-3.
“I thought we came out and did what we had to do,” MSU head coach Tracy Lane said. “We weren’t as focused today. We played up and down, but I’m very proud of the effort.”
State’s Switala secured the Lady Dogs first singles win on the day, defeating USM’s Olson 6-1, 6-0. Rekasi followed Switala, as she defeated, Golden Eagle, Harrison 6-1, 6-1.
For the first time in her MSU career, Sagae, played at No. 1 and clinched the Lady Dogs’ second victory of the season with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Southern Miss’ Berry. Following Sagae’s team clinching win, Ueda downed Berry in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Fagan took a two-set (6-2, 6-1) win over Sibille at No. 2, and Dodgen finished off the afternoon, defeating Miller at No. 6 (6-2, 6-4).
The Lady ‘Dawgs tennis team will be back in action Friday Feb. 8 when they travel to Coral Gables, Fla., to take on the Miami Hurricanes. State will not return home until Feb. 17 when they host the University of South Alabama at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on campus.