zalina Khairudinova hits a volley during a match against Jackson State. Photo: Ignacio Murillo, The Daily Mississippian.
The Ole Miss women’s tennis team continued its winning ways on Saturday in the Gillom Sports Center, as the Rebels trounced the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 7-0.
The doubles point took just one more minute than the 22 that senior Caroline Rohde-Moe’s father estimated it would take. Fans were given the opportunity to predict how long the doubles point would last for a chance to win a Rebel gift pack, and Kjell Gunnar Rohde-Moe was the closest. He then watched Caroline drop the first two games of her singles match before winning 12 of 13 the rest of the way.
“We did a good job of taking care of business,” head coach Mark Beyers said. “I thought we were focused. I thought we worked on things, and we got better today. That’s what you want to make sure you get out of these matches.”
Freshman Zalina Khairudinova continued her strong play on Saturday as well. She was the first one off the singles court, disposing of junior Danielle Kerindi 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Sophomore Mai El Kamash also played well in her first home action of the season. After being held out of the Jan. 22 match against Jackson State with what Beyers called “very light elbow tendonitis,” El Kamash, sporting an elbow sleeve on her right arm, picked up her second straight victory at the No. 4 singles spot, 6-0, 6-2. El Kamash is ranked 57th in the nation in singles.
“Obviously, depth is something that we definitely have, and we’re going to need in the SEC,” Beyers said. “Our top four positions are all very experienced players. Against any team at any spot, I feel like we have an opportunity to win.”
The Rebels will have nearly three weeks off before their next match. They will host a doubleheader Feb. 21 to kick off their outdoor season. Ole Miss will face Lipscomb before battling Tennessee State.
“Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and we’ll be able to get outside and start practicing,” Beyers said.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss women’s tennis, follow @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— Nick Eley
njeley@go.olemiss.edu
