STARKVILLE – If you walk by the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on a sunny afternoon, you’ll likely hear some sounds that are typical for an average tennis practice: bouncing tennis balls and shouts of both glee and frustration, just to name a few.
But at Mississippi State, there’s much more going on at women’s tennis practice behind the large, dark windscreens that surround the courts. There are teammates gathered around each other, laughing among themselves during their quick breaks. There’s also a coach who looks on from the side, giving feedback with a jolly demeanor.
Graduate student and team captain Alexandra Mikhailuk is in her fifth season with the Bulldogs, and it’s safe to say that she’s enjoying herself.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Mikhailuk said. “I’m definitely having a lot of fun on the court.”
Much of Mississippi State’s new approach towards tennis has come at the hands of head coach Chris Hooshyar. The Manchester, England, native took on the position in June after spending a decade working with Auburn University’s men’s and women’s tennis programs. As he stepped into Starkville for the first time as a Bulldog rather than an opponent, he was given one main goal to tackle by athletic director Zac Selmon.
“When I came here, [Selmon] said, ‘You know, I want you to pour into these girls, they deserve it,’” Hooshyar said.
He continued, adding his own thoughts on the student-athletes that he’s gotten closer to over the past few months.
“They’re a great group of girls,” Hooshyar said. “They show up every day. They’re working really, really hard.”
It’s evident that Hooshyar loves instructing his student-athletes, and there’s no doubt that they feel the same way in return. Chloé Cirotte, a senior who serves alongside Mikhailuk as a team captain, explained that the first-year coach helps her and her teammates grow in multiple ways.
“He’s very involved in everything he’s doing with the team, each person he takes care of as a human but as a tennis player as well,” Cirotte said.
The native of Orléans, France, has also seen a shift in how the Bulldogs approach each day.
“The whole team with new people is getting more energy and everything,” Cirotte said. “I really do appreciate this atmosphere.”
Mikhailuk shared similar thoughts regarding how her coach has helped the team improve, emphasizing his dedication to unifying his players.
“He accentuates teamwork and togetherness a lot, so that’s something that’s been really positive for us this semester, and I’m excited to see where it goes,” Mikhailuk said.
Hooshyar is working tirelessly to make big changes in his first year in the Maroon and White, and that has started with setting his players up to accomplish their dreams on the court.
Two weeks ago, Mikhailuk and doubles partner Athina Pitta won the ITA Southern Regional Championship and will be representing the Bulldogs in the ITA Fall National Championships in San Diego, California next month.
Mississippi State has already had a jam-packed fall slate full of tournaments all across the Southeast. That schedule will ramp up even more in the spring when dual match play begins. Each team member has had the opportunity to meet with her coach and discuss the things that she hopes to accomplish.
“We’ve done a huge push and an emphasis on what success will look like, and then also meeting individually to see what individually success will look like,” Hooshyar said.
After a few weeks on the road, Mississippi State is looking to pick up some big wins across multiple matches in front of its home crowd. The third annual John Cade Invitational, named in honor of the longtime MSU tennis administrator and advocate, will be hosted by the Bulldogs from Oct. 27-29. It’s an event that Hooshyar has been eagerly anticipating since it was first listed on the schedule.
“I’m like a little kid, [I’ve] got a little smile on my face and I’m looking forward to it,” Hooshyar said.
Likewise, Mikhailuk is excited to play at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre for the only time this fall. The doubles standout anticipates that some familiar faces will return to the court in front of the Bulldog faithful.
“It’s always nice to play at home, and especially because this semester we haven’t been able to do that,” Mikhailuk said. “It’ll be the first match back for a couple of our girls as well that haven’t played since last year.”
Cirotte, who has battled back this season following an injury, is just as ready to impress fans in attendance.
“I can’t wait to compete with the team, and hopefully we’re doing great things together,” Cirotte said.
Even as an opposing coach, Hooshyar was always impressed by what he saw during his occasional visits to Pitts. After overseeing countless practices in Starkville and imagining the day when those practices would turn into a true tournament in front of spectators, the time has finally come for those dreams to become reality.
“To come to Pitts and have that experience of it being my home court, I’m really excited,” Hooshyar said. “I think it’s one of the most fan-friendly facilities in the whole country, and we need to do a good job on the court of relating with our fans.”
The Bulldogs are itching to showcase their skills and gain some momentum heading into the final few weeks of fall action. Victories are important, but as Hooshyar stated, they don’t come without preparation behind the scenes that translates into success when it matters most.
“We want to win, the people of Starkville want to win,” Hooshyar said, “But it’s the manner of how we go about it, and that’s the product that we put on the tennis court.”
The future certainly seems bright for MSU. With a strong leader at the helm and plenty of talented players who are prepared to compete week in and week out, all signs point to years of success.
But ultimately, it’s the personalities that shine through in each serve and backhand swing that have already made the biggest impact on Hooshyar.
“I’ve been really, really grateful to walk into a place with such good people,” Hooshyar said.