ATHENS, Ga. – Mississippi State’s men’s tennis team began competition Friday at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships in Athens, Ga., the opening event for MSU’s 2008 fall campaign.

In the Division I singles draw, senior Ryan Farlow and rookie Daniel Sanchez both fell in tough three-set affairs for the Bulldogs. Farlow was held off by Brad Cox of Kentucky 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Sanchez, playing in his first match ever as a Bulldog, took the first set from 71st-ranked Javier Garrapiz of host Georgia, but ultimately dropped a 6-7, 6-0, 6-4 decision. Both MSU players will compete in consolation action Saturday.

In Division II singles, sophomore Antonio Lastre received a first-round bye and then rallied to defeat Yannick Yoshizawa of South Florida in the second round in three sets, 5-7, 6-0, 7-6. He will play again Saturday in the third round.

Also earning a bye in Division II, MSU junior Chris Doerr dropped his match in the second round of that draw to Alex Ahlgren of East Tennessee State, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. State sophomore Tanner Stump took his first-round match in two sets, 7-5, 6-1, defeating Matthew Rock of Jacksonville. He then fell 6-4, 6-2 to Furman’s eighth-seeded Chris Motes.

MState had two pairings in doubles competing late Friday evening. In Division I, Farlow and Sanchez faced the top-seeded and 15th-ranked Kentucky duo of Bruno Agostinelli and Cox of Kentucky, falling 8-1. In Division II doubles, Bulldogs Doerr and Stump posted an impressive 8-2 victory over Mario Gutierrez and Justin Kirstein of Tennessee Tech.

Main draw singles and doubles action will continue on Saturday, while consolation singles will also begin Saturday.

MSU RESULTS AT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Athens, Ga. – 9/19/08

SINGLES – DIVISION I
Second Round - Brad Cox (Kentucky) def. Ryan Farlow  (MSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3; #71 Javier Garrapiz (Georgia) def. Daniel Sanchez (MSU) 6-7, 6-0, 6-4.

SINGLES – DIVISION II
First Round - Tanner Stump (MSU) def. Matthew Rock (Jacksonville) 7-5, 6-1.
Second Round – Chris Motes (Furman) def. Stump (MSU) 6-4, 6-2; Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Chris Doerr (MSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Yannick Yoshizawa (South Florida) 5-7, 6-0, 7-6.

DOUBLES – DIVISION I
Second Round – #15 Bruno Agostinelli/Cox (Kentucky) def. Farlow/Sanchez (MSU) 8-1.

DOUBLES – DIVISION II
First Round – Doerr/Stump (MSU) def. Mario Gutierrez/Justin Kirstein (Tennessee Tech) 8-2.