Razorbacks fall to Bulldogs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No.54 University of Arkansas men’s tennis team dropped its match to No.12 Mississippi State 4-1 on Friday afternoon at the Dills Indoor Tennis Facility.

“We came out strong in doubles play,” head coach Robert Cox said. “We just couldn’t get going in singles play. Hats off to Mississippi State, they came out after dropping the doubles and didn’t back down.”

Doubles play was very competitive between the Hogs and the Bulldogs. The senior duo of Mike Ward and Gregoire Lehmann defeated Mississippi State’s pair of Ethan Wilkinson and Zach White 8-4. The Bulldogs responded with a win on court three, tying the score at one all. Juniors Manfred Jeske and Mike Nott clinched the doubles point for the Razorbacks with a 9-7 win over the number 14 doubles team in the country.

The Razorbacks couldn’t transition their momentum from doubles to singles play, dropping every first set to the Bulldogs. Jeske made a great comeback in the second set against No. 59 Malte Stroop, but the match was clinched by Mississippi State before they could finish the third set. The score was tied 1-1.

Mike Nott’s match was also cut short while he was making his comeback in set two. He was up a break point to Jordan Angus on court three.

Arkansas will close out the weekend on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. against No. 7 Ole Miss. 

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