STARKVILLE, Miss.? The University of Kentucky men?s tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to Mississippi State on Friday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Center.
No. 54 Kentucky (10-7, 2-3) opened the match sweeping doubles play to take the early advantage, but then watched No. 71 Mississippi State (4-9, 1-4) win four consecutive singles matches to win the match.
Kentucky?s No. 1 duo of sophomores Bruno Agostinelli and Kenny Hodge opened with an 8-3 win over Ivan Bjelica and Philippe Frayssinoux. Junior Marcus Sundh and freshman Roman Ogarkov claimed the doubles point as they topped Chris Doerr and Ryan Farlow, 8-5.
The Blue and White?s dynamic tandem of senior Peter Bjork and junior Will Ward protected their unblemished mark in doubles action, but it was nothing short of thrilling. The Bulldogs? Artem Kuznetsov and Pjotrs Necajevs put up a tremendous fight against the nation?s No. 22 rated doubles team. The Wildcats prevailed with an 8-7 (3) win to move their record to 9-0.
After taking the early 1-0 lead, Kentucky dropped singles matches at Nos. 6, 2, 1 and 5. Doerr jumped ahead of Hodge, 6-1, 6-2 to even the score at one.
Frayssinoux was granted the win after Ward deferred with the score in Frayssinoux?s advantage 6-1, 5-3. No. 88 Agostinelli fell at No. 1 against the country?s No. 39 rated Bjelica, 6-2, 6-2.
Mississippi State claimed that match at No. 5, as Farlow downed sophomore Shane Collins, 6-4, 6-2. The final two matches with Bjork and Sundh were suspended once the match was decided.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday when they face No. 9 Ole Miss. The Rebels have won the last six matches against the Wildcats. First serve is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Complete results of the day?s matches can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
#71 Mississippi State 4, #54 Kentucky 1
Singles
1. #39 Ivan Bjelica (MSU) def. #88 Bruno Agostinelli (UK) 6-2, 6-2
2. Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) def. #96 Will Ward (UK) 6-1, 5-3, def.
3. Peter Bjork (UK) vs. Artem Kuznetsov (MSU) 6-6, susp.
4. Marcus Sundh (UK) led Pjotrs Necajevs (MSU) 6-4, 2-0 susp.
5. Ryan Farlow (MSU) def. Shane Collins (UK) 6-4, 6-2
6. Chris Doerr (MSU) def. Kenny Hodge (UK) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 1, 5
Doubles
1. Agostinelli/Hodge (UK) def. Bjelica/Frayssinoux (MSU) 8-3
2. #22 Bjork/Ward (UK) def. Kuznetsov/Necajevs (MSU) 8-7 (3)
3. Roman Ogarkov/Sundh (UK) def. Farlow/Doerr (MSU) 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
