Julia Jones hits the ball during a match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Oxford Monday. Ole Miss won 6-0. DM Photo | Kayla Beatty
Senior Julia Jones picked up her 100th career victory when the Ole Miss women’s tennis team defeated the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 6-0 Monday afternoon at the Gillom Sports Center.
Jones defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior Elizabeth Perez 6-0, 6-0 to become the seventh player in program history to reach the 100-win milestone.
“I’m really excited. It’s really cool to become the seventh person,” Jones said. “It was in the back of my mind every time I went on the court. I’m definitely relieved to have it out of the way. It’s been an amazing four years. I’m just glad to have been a part of this amazing program.”
“It’s an exclusive club,” Ole Miss head coach Mark Beyers said. “To be a part of that club is a pretty neat thing. She’s having a great year and, hopefully, will continue to have a great year. We’d like for her to pick up a few more wins before it’s all said and done.”
The win puts Jones in elite company, joining All-Americans Paloma Collates (123), Agnes Muzamel (122), Courtenay Chapman (114), Mira Radu (108), Ivona Mihailova (105) and Marie-Laure Bougnol (102).
The 100th win for Jones gave her 27 on the year, and she now holds a 17-4 record at No. 1 singles. Jones needs to record three more wins to become the tenth player to total 30 wins in a season.
At No. 2 singles, junior Mai El Kamash won easily over senior Monica Arcos 6-1, 6-0. Freshman Natalie Suk shut out senior Destiny Jones at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-0. At No. 4 singles, sophomore Zalina Khairudinova beat sophomore Tierra Poyner 6-0, 6-0. Finally, at No. 5 singles, junior Allie Robbins defeated junior Kristen Moore 6-0, 6-0.
Ole Miss will host Mississippi State at 1 p.m. Saturday in their final home match of the regular season. It will be senior day for the Rebels, who have won 25 games in a row against the Bulldogs.
“It’s going to be bittersweet,” Beyers said. “Hopefully, they’ll be able to use their emotions and play some of the best matches they’ve played this year.”
The Rebels attempt to take down their in-state rivals, who have been solid all year.
“They’ve got their best team in a long time, and their results show that,” Beyers said. “It’s going to take our best tennis to come out on top.”
“It’s definitely going to be a battle,” Jones said. “They’re a lot better than they have been in the past, but I think we know what we have to do. We’re still the better team, and if everyone goes out and plays their game, we’re going to be fine.”
