Mississippi State Tennis Players Set for ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State tennis players Bryan Hernandez Cortes and Raphael Vaksmann are set to compete in the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this week, according to the school’s athletic communications.

It will be the first fall tournament for both players. Hernandez Cortes reached the main draw in last year’s event after winning four matches through prequalifying and qualifying stages. Vaksmann also participated in 2025, defeating North Carolina’s Constantinos Djakouris in prequalifying.

Vaksmann will begin in the qualifying round Monday at 1:30 p.m. against Illinois’ Jeremy Zhang, as the 17th seed in the qualification bracket. Hernandez Cortes will start in the main draw on Wednesday, with pairings to be announced Tuesday night. Both players are ranked within the top 100 in the ITA preseason rankings, with Hernandez Cortes at No. 61 and Vaksmann at No. 95.

Vaksmann’s current ranking is his highest career mark, surpassing his previous best of No. 123 in 2025. Hernandez Cortes reached as high as No. 34 last season. The duo are key returners for Mississippi State’s 2026-27 team, which is led by head coach Matt Roberts.

Under Roberts, the Bulldogs have advanced to consecutive NCAA quarterfinals and continue to compete successfully in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. The team remains one of the top college tennis programs in the country, according to school officials.

Follow Mississippi State Men’s Tennis on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at “HailStateMT” for updates on the team’s progress at the tournament and throughout the season.

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