Junior Zalina Khairudinova returns a backhand in her singles match against Georgia. Photo by: Evan Turner
It’s a big weekend for the Ole Miss Rebels tennis team, both men and women. The women’s tennis team is coming into this weekend at 9-6 overall and 2-4 in conference.
The Rebels started off hot, winning their first seven matches. Conference play wasn’t as kind to them, however.
The Rebels have struggled in conference play, and at one point dropped four matches in a row, dropping out of the top 25.
This weekend provides the Rebels with an opportunity to get back to .500 in conference play. On Thursday, March 31, the Rebels take on Kentucky.
Kentucky comes into the match ranked 23rd and has a 13-6 record. The Wildcats have had some impressive wins over Texas A&M and Tennessee with scores of 6-1 and 4-2.
For the most part, Kentucky has struggled in conference play dropping matches to South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
Kentucky is highlighted by their No. 1 singles player Justina Milkuskyte and the No. 5-ranked doubles team Mami Adachi and Aldila Sutjiadi.
This should prove to be a tough match for the Rebels. If they can win the doubles point, they will have a shot to take the match. On Saturday the Rebels will take on the Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt comes into the match with an overall record of 12-4 and a conference record 5-2. Vanderbilt is led by their singles player Sydney Campbell who is ranked No. 25 in the nation. Vanderbilt poses a tough matchup for the Rebels.
The men’s tennis team also has a big weekend ahead of them. The Rebels boast an overall record of 7-7 and a conference record of 2-5. Conference play has not been very kind these Rebels either, as they have lost four straight coming into the weekend and will host Mississippi State and the University of Alabama.
The Bulldogs have an overall record of 13-5 and a conference record of 5-3. The Bulldogs are coming into the weekend after beating Auburn in Starkville by a score of 4-2. The Bulldogs are led by No. 1 singles player Mate Cutura.
Cuturua and the Rebels’ No. 1 singles player Stefan Lindmark should provide a very entertaining match.
The Bulldogs also have a very solid doubles team.
Sunday, the Rebels play Alabama. Alabama is 13-9 overall and 4-4 in conference play. The University of Alabama has a very solid singles player, Mazen Osama, who is ranked No. 43. Alabama also has the 17-ranked doubles team, Korey Lovett and Mazen Osama. The key to the weekend for the Rebels is winning the doubles point.
If the Rebels can win the doubles point, they have a shot in both matches this weekend.
