Mississippi State Bulldogs down Arkansas, Nicholls State to Tie Best Home Start

The Mississippi State Bulldogs matched the 1998 tennis squad for their best start at home in tennis history by moving to 11-0  at the A. J. Pitts Tennis Centre by sweeping a doubleheader Sunday against No. 71 Arkansas and Nicholls State.

In the opening contest, the Bulldogs(16-7, 5-3) dropped the doubles point to their SEC foe from Fayetteville, and after Manfred Jeske picked up a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 91 Malte Stropp, the Razorbacks looked as if they may have a chance to take control of the match.

Mississippi State managed to turn the momentum back to their side of the court when No. 69 Florian Lakat picked up a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Mike Nott on court one to put the first point on the board for the Maroon and White.

Mississippi State then proved their mettle by picking up three-straight three set victories. Zach White evened the match when he rallied from a set down to defeat Hall Fess 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Tassilo Schmid put Mississippi State ahead 3-2 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win on court six over Pete Thomason.  The Bulldogs clinched the match when Jordan Angus defeated Javan Parlic 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-1 on court four.

With the match in hand, play on court five was suspended with Mississippi State's Rishab Agarwall leading Johan den Toom 6-7(8), 6-3, 4-3.

With the victory over Arkansas secure, the Bulldogs began preparations for their match with the Colonels.

Mississippi State quickly jumped on Nicholls State by claiming the doubles point, and the carried the momentum into singles play where they picked up three straight-sets victories to clinch the match 4-0.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday in Oxford for a 1 pm match.