The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebels Advance to Quarterfinals
6/21/1999 | Women's Tennis
February 18, 1999
MADISON, Wisc. - The No. 6 nationally-ranked Ole Miss women's tennis team dominated Kansas at the No. 3 doubles position to clinch a 5-4 win over the 17th-ranked Jayhawks in the first round of the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships, Thursday at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center. The Lady Rebels (6-0) will face SEC rival and third-ranked Georgia, in the quarterfinal round Friday at 2:30 p.m.
The win marks the first time in the their six National Team Indoor appearances that the Lady Rebels have advanced to the quarterfinals. The Lady Rebels yielded their first points of the season after five straight 9-0 wins.
Ole Miss led 4-2 after singles play, but Kansas beat both of the Lady Rebels' top two doubles teams, which are tied for ninth in the latest rankings, to even the match at 4-4. The Mihailova twins, Ivona and Irena came up big at the No. 3 spot, shutting out Lisa Mallaiah and Monica Sekulov 8-0 to give the Lady Rebels the victory.
"This is a big win for our program," head coach Jerry Montgomery said. "Ivona and Irena played phenomenal at No. 3 doubles to clinch the win. Georgia has a very good team and we are looking forward to playing them in the quarterfinals."
Celeste Frey downed Brooke Chiller 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, Ivona Mihailova cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Mallaiah at No. 3 singles to give the Lady Rebels a 2-0 lead. Frey moves to 24-8 on the season. Kris Sell, ranked No. 18 in the nation, upset fourth-ranked Agnes Muzamel in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 singles to pull the Jayhawks to within one (2-1). Courtenay Chapman held off Sekulova 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 at the fourth position and Mariana Eberle defeated Julia Sidorova 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5 singles for a 4-1 Ole Miss lead. Alesya Ignatieva dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to Mallaiah at No. 6 singles making the score 4-2 heading into the doubles.
USTA/ITA NATIONAL TEAM INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Madison, Wisc.
#6 Ole Miss 5 vs. #17 Kansas 4
SINGLES
#1 Kris Sell (UK) def. Agnes Muzamel (OM) 7-5, 6-1#2 Celeste Frey (OM) def. Brooke Chiller (UK) 6-1, 6-1#3 Ivona Mihailova (OM) def. Cheryl Mallaiah (UK) 6-2, 6-1#4 Courtenay Chapman (OM) def. Monica Sekulova (UK) 6-0, 1-6, 6-3#5 Mariana Eberle (OM) def. Julia Sidorova (UK) 6-4, 6-2#6 Lisa Mallaiah (UK) def. Alesya Ignatieva (OM) 6-1, 6-3DOUBLES
#1 Sell-C. Mallaiah (UK) def. Frey-Eberle (OM) 9-7#2 Sidorova-Chiller (UK) def. Muzamel-Chapman (OM) 8-6#3 Mihailova-Mihailova (OM) def. L. Mallaiah (UK) 9-7
