Mississippi State University’s women’s tennis team lost to the University of Texas 4-1 on Saturday at the Weller Tennis Center in Austin.
The Bulldogs started strong by winning the doubles point. The No. 71-ranked pair of Chiara Di Genova and Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz defeated Texas’ Anastasia Abbagnato and Mathilde Ngijol-Care, 6-3. Athina Pitta and Gianna Oboniye, playing together for the first time this season, secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Elizabeth Ionescu and Christasha McNeil.
Despite their early lead, Mississippi State was unable to maintain momentum during singles play as Texas won four consecutive matches to clinch victory.
In singles competition, Carmen Herea from Texas beat Gianna Oboniye in three sets (6-2, 2-6, 6-1). Anastasia Abbagnato overcame Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (7-6 [9-7], 6-1), while Christasha McNeil defeated Chiara Di Genova (6-4, 6-3). Elizabeth Ionescu secured the final point for Texas by defeating Carolina Troiano (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).
Some matches were unfinished when the overall result was decided: Thessy Ntondele Zinga versus Eszter Meri and Athina Pitta versus Mathilde Ngijol-Carre did not reach a conclusion.
Mississippi State will return home to face Vanderbilt in Starkville on March 13 at 3 p.m.
For more information about Mississippi State women’s tennis, visit Hailstate.com or search for “HailstateWT” on social media platforms including X, Instagram and Facebook.
