STARKVILLE, Miss. ? The University of South Alabama men’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 match against Mississippi State at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Center, Sunday. The loss dropped the Jaguars (#46) to 1-3 on the young year, while the Bulldogs (#53) improved to 3-2 on the season.

“We slipped in the doubles point and that would have helped because we played short handed again,” head coach Nick Brochu said. “ We have some guys who are playing with a lot of heart, but others that need to play better.”

The Jaguars lost the doubles point, 2-1, after the duo of Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux beat the eighth-ranked Jaguar tandem of Jack Baker and Marek Sramek, 8-5. Robert Hodel and R.J. Nagel did defeat Pjotrs Necajevs and Tanner Stump, 8-5, but USA defaulted in the third spot giving the MSU the point.

For the second straight match, the Jaguars picked up all their points in the singles matches as Marek Sramek won at the number one position and R.J. Nagel put down Pjotrs Necajevs at the number four spot. 20th ranked Jack Baker dropped the first set to 14th ranked Philippe Frayssinoux, but fought back to pick up the upset of the Bulldog netter. MSU picked up the win though as Robert Hodel lost to Ryan Farlow and Aaron Krisan fell to Antonio Lastre.

USA will have a short rest before they welcome Stetson to the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

A.J. Pitts Tennis Center
Starkville, Miss. - 02/17/08
Conditions: Partly Cloudy, 67 degrees

Final Score: # 53 Mississippi State 4 ? # 46 South Alabama 3

Singles Results: Mississippi State 3 ? South Alabama 3
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 5, 4, 1, 2
1) Marek Sramek (S) d. Ivan Bjelica (M), 0-6, 7-6 (2), 1-0 (8)
2) #20 Jack Baker (S) d. #14 P. Frayssinoux (M), 4-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0 (9)
3) Ryan Farlow (M) d. Robert Hodel (S), 6-2, 6-1
4) R.J. Nagel (S) d. Pjotrs Necajevs (M), 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (3)
5) Antonio Lastre (M) d. Aaron Krisan (S), 6-1, 6-2 *
6) MSU wins by Default

Doubles Results: MSU wins the doubles point
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
1) Muller/Clayton (S) d. Galic/Rux (B), 8-5
2) Hodel/Nagel (S) d. Necajevs/Stump (M), 8-5
3) MSU Wins by Default

* Clinched Win