RUSTON – After a three-week layoff due to postponed matches, Louisiana Tech returns to the courts Sunday as the Bulldogs travel to play a doubleheader versus Bellarmine and Mississippi State.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Match One
LA Tech vs. Bellarmine | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m. CT
Match Two
LA Tech at Mississippi State | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 1 p.m. CT
 
Location: A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre (Starkville, Miss.)
Live Stream: LATechSports.com/TennisStream
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/TennisStats
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (2-1)
LA Tech last played three weeks ago after having its three home matches postponed due to weather.  The Bulldogs had a promising start to the spring, collecting victories over Wyoming and SEMO while dropping a 4-3 match to Tulsa at the Hurricane Invite.
 
The team is a combined 11-7 in dual singles, led by Zoie Epps and Isabella Walker who are both 3-0.  Walker was named CUSA Athlete of the Week following her performance in Tulsa.  In dual doubles, the Bulldogs are a combined 4-5 with the tandem of Epps and Walker owning a 2-1 mark.  The duo was voted CUSA Doubles Team of the Week as a result of their wins in the opening weekend.
 
ABOUT BELLARMINE (2-6)
Bellarmine opened the spring season splitting its first four matches, picking up victories against WKU and Cumberlands.  The Knights have since suffered four straight losses, including a hard-fought 4-3 defeat at Bowling Green this past Friday.
 
BU, who have returned six players from last season, is in its sixth season of Division I competition as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.  The Knights are led by Nikola Kollaritsch who has won five consecutive matches primarily at the No. 6 spot.
 
Sunday will mark the first ever matchup on the courts between LA Tech and Bellarmine
 
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-0)
Mississippi State has gotten off to a 4-0 start this spring, collecting victories over UAB, Samford, Georgia Southern, and Alcorn State.  Their most recent action was a doubleheader sweep of the Eagles at 5-2 and the Lady Braves at 4-0.
 
The Bulldogs are a combined 18-3 in dual singles, led by Thessy Ntondele Zinga and Mia Robinson who are both a perfect 4-0.  They have yet to drop a doubles match this spring, going 8-0, anchored by the 9th-ranked tandem in the country in Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Gianna Oboniye.
 
LA Tech is 0-2 all-time against Mississippi State.  The last meeting between the two programs came in 1986 in Starkville.
 
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