Matt Roberts sets all-time wins record as Mississippi State beats Vanderbilt

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State’s men’s tennis team defeated Vanderbilt 4-3 Saturday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre, marking a historic moment for the Bulldogs’ program. Head coach Matt Roberts secured his place as the school’s all-time winningest coach with the victory.

Roberts, who has led the Bulldogs to NCAA Tournament appearances each season he has been at the helm, achieved the milestone in a hard-fought SEC victory before a home crowd of 523 spectators. The win continued Mississippi State’s trend of strong conference starts, as it opened SEC play with a victory for the fourth straight season. The Bulldogs now hold a 9-1 season record for 2026.

Despite dropping the doubles point for the second consecutive match, the Bulldogs responded with resilience in singles play. They earned their second straight 4-3 win, with key victories from Benito Sanchez Martinez, Petar Jovanovic, and Mario Martinez Serrano. Sanchez Martinez and Jovanovic each won in three sets, while Martinez Serrano rallied for a win at No. 3 in a lengthy match that lasted four hours.

The Bulldogs’ victory was clinched by Bryan Hernandez Cortes, who defeated Hugo Coquelin in straight sets at No. 6 singles. The match featured competitive play across all courts, with Mississippi State earning one doubles win and five singles wins overall. The Bulldogs will face No. 3 Texas at 11 a.m. CT on February 23 at the same venue.

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