The Ole Miss women’s tennis team netted three wins over in-state foes this weekend, defeating Mississippi State, 4-1, on Friday before sweeping a doubleheader against Southern Miss, 4-0, in both matches Sunday.
FRIDAY: No. 37 OLE MISS 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
The Lady Rebel tennis team got back in the Southeastern Conference win column Friday afternoon, handing in-state rival Mississippi State a 4-1 loss in Oxford.
It was the 24th-straight win for Ole Miss (8-9, 4-5 SEC) in the series against the Bulldogs (7-10, 1-8 SEC).
The Rebels’ commanding play began with the doubles matches, as the Rebels easily won the doubles point.
In singles play, junior Caroline Rohde-Moe won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, and looked very deserving of her No. 45 ranking. Sophomore Julia Jones lost her match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, to Alexandra Perper of Mississippi State.
At No. 3 singles, freshman Mai El Kamash put away Naomi Tran in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, then freshman Marija Milutinovic clinched the win with her 6-1, 6-0 win against Roseine Dion.
SUNDAY: NO. 37 OLE MISS 4, SOUTHERN MISS 0 (DH)
Ole Miss (10-9, 4-5 SEC) continued its winning ways Sunday with two 4-0 wins over in-state foe Southern Miss. The doubleheader gave head coach Mark Beyers the opportunity to give freshman Allie Robbins and sophomore Santa Shumilina some experience while resting Julia Jones and Caroline Rohde-Moe.
In the first match, sophomore Erin Stephens got the start at No. 1 singles and won her match against Alexus Coats handily, 6-4, 6-0, which clinched the early win for the Rebels.
Freshman Mai El Kamash, ranked No. 82, cruised to an easy 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kate Lanier. Sophomore Iris Verboven and junior Vief Vlaar both won in straight sets as well.
The second match played out in a similar fashion. Again, Ole Miss cruised to an easy 4-0 win without dropping a single set to Southern Miss in six singles matches.
El Kamash played No. 1 singles and was up 5-2 in the first set when sophomore Santa Shumilina clinched the Rebels’ victory with her 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Elanor Grossman.
Ole Miss returns to action next weekend when it plays at Florida Friday and at South Carolina Sunday.
