Mississippi State’s Men’s Tennis Season Ends in NCAA Quarterfinals

ATHENS, Ga. — No. 6 Mississippi State’s men’s tennis team saw its season come to an end Thursday evening with a 4-1 loss to No. 5 Virginia in the NCAA quarterfinals at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season, but Virginia secured the doubles point early and maintained momentum through singles play. The Cavaliers won three straight-set matches to clinch the victory, with Dylan Dietrich, Keegan Rice, and Andres Santamarta earning wins for Virginia.

Mississippi State’s lone point came from Raphael Vaksmann, who defeated Stiles Brockett in straight sets. Vaksmann finished the season with a team-high 21 singles wins and extended his winning streak to seven matches, according to the school.

The Bulldogs had a strong run through the NCAA tournament, sweeping their opening rounds and defeating Georgia in the Super Regional to reach the quarterfinals. Head coach Matt Roberts led the team through a record-tying season that included back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and one of the program’s most successful stretches.

The season marks the end of an era for a veteran group including Sanchez Martinez, Jovanovic, Martinez Serrano, and Novansky, who helped elevate Mississippi State’s program to national prominence over several seasons.

Mississippi State finishes the year with a 25-6 record, while Virginia ends at 26-4. The Cavaliers moved on to face North Carolina in the semifinals, while the Bulldogs’ historic run concludes.

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