Feb. 3, 2008

STARKVILLE, Miss. ----- The UAB men's tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to 54th-ranked Mississippi State here Sunday afternoon in a dual match played indoors at the McCarthy Gymnasium.

The Blazers (1-1) posted their only win in the match at the No. 4 singles position as Dan Cornei defeated MSU's Artem Kuuznetsov, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. State took matches at No. 1, 2, 3 and 6 to take the win.

MSU's Ivan Bjelica put his team on the board first with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles over Slawomir Szeremeta. Phillippe Frayssinoux, State's No. 2 player and ranked No. 14 in the latest collegiate rankings, was a 6-1, 6-2 winner over UAB's Tyrone Ewels.

Ryan Farlow gave Mississippi State a 3-0 lead with his 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles over the Blazers' Johannes Spangenberg. Maximilien Genuini closed out the action at No. 6 singles as he clinched the match for the Bulldogs with a 6-1, 6-4 win over UAB sophomore Alex Emery.

The match at No. 5 singles between UAB's Brian Ly and MSU's Antonio Lastre was suspended in the third set after the Bulldogs clinched the match.

Doubles were not contested in the match.

The Blazers' next action will come Feb. 17 when they travel to Troy.

No. 54 Mississippi State 4, UAB 1

Feb. 3, 2008 -- Starkville, Miss.

Singles

No. 1 - Ivan Bjelica (MSU) def. Slawomir Szeremta (UAB) 6-1, 6-3

No. 2 - Philippe Frayssinoux (MSU) def. Tyrone Ewels (UAB) 6-1, 6-2

No. 4 - Dan Cornei (UAB) def. Artem Kuznetsov (MSU) 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4

No. 5 - Brian Ly (UAB) vs. Antonio Lastre (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 2-4

No. 6 - Maximilien Genuini (MSU) def. Alex Emery (UAB) 6-1, 6-4