The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis Players 'Graduate' In Chancellor's Office
5/12/2000 | Women's Tennis
May 12, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - Almost every college student looks forward to graduation day - a time to come together with family and friends to celebrate four years of hard work and accomplishments.
For three University of Mississippi seniors, however, there won't be a walk in The Grove on Saturday with classmates. Instead of accepting diplomas, they'll be competing in the NCAA Division I Tennis Championships First and Second Rounds at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
Ivona and Irena Mihailova, twin sisters from Skopje, Macedonia, and Mariana Eberle from Buenos Aires, Argentina, are the three senior members of the top 20-ranked Ole Miss Lady Rebels tennis team. On Thursday afternoon - instead of practicing for this weekend's ceremonies - Ivona Mihailova and Eberle were hard at work on the tennis courts getting ready for the tournament. Irena Mihailova was studying for one of her final exams.
For Ivona Mihailova, missing Saturday's walk is a little disappointing because there are no graduation ceremonies in her country. But she is used to missing important events normally taken for granted by other college students.
"Because of tennis, there are some things in life we haven't been able to do," she said.
Like Ivona Mihailova, Eberle has also accepted that there will be no large ceremony. Luckily for her, however, her entire family flew in from Argentina to be with her.
"It's mostly a symbolic thing," she said about Saturday's graduation.
Although the trio won't be donning caps and gowns on Saturday, they did have special graduation exercises in Chancellor Robert Khayat's office. Khayat took time to award them their diplomas in a private ceremony earlier this week, calling the three a "great gift to the University who have made the school a better place academically, as well as on the tennis courts." All three were moved by the ceremony.
"It was extraordinary for him (Khayat) to do it," Ivona Mihailova said. "In some ways, it was a better graduation because we got him in person."
Eberle agreed. "It was important to my parents to have that small ceremony," she said. "What could be better than having a private ceremony with friends?"
The unusual graduation was arranged because not only are they top-ranked players in their sport but also academic superstars. Irena Mihailova has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) in accounting, was listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and won the Taylor Medal - Ole Miss' highest academic award ? in accountancy. She was selected as the Ole Miss representative for the H. Boyd McWhorter Outstanding Student Athlete nominee in women's athletics.
Ivona Mihailova is no academic slouch herself, with a 3.7 GPA in international business. She also is listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and on the University's Athletic Association Honor Roll.
Eberle - who barely knew English when she arrived in Oxford, which made it necessary to take intensive English courses - made the Athletic Association Honor Roll and is president of the Latin American Students Association. She graduated with a degree in journalism.
Head Women's Tennis Coach Jerry Montgomery is justifiably proud of the trio.
"I don't know if I ever met three young women who are as disciplined as they are, who use their time as wisely as they do and consistently make responsible decisions," he said. "They are driven and winners in whatever they do."
For Montgomery, watching all three grow in the last four years - both on and off the court - has been a pleasure. He is especially impressed since English is a second language for all three.
"Their academic careers would be considered great for any Mississippi resident or any person from the United States who came to Ole Miss," he said. "But they have done it in a second language with the added demands of being on a varsity women's tennis team that is consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally." Montgomery also is pleased that all three women have taken on leadership roles, participating in a number of campus activities.
"They are going to be very difficult to replace," he said. "Their growth as people has been significant. The most fun I had since they have been here is watching them just blossom."
With such demands on the three tennis players, how have they managed to accomplish so much? Ivona Mihailova, who is ranked No. 14 in singles and reached the semifinals at the National Clay Court Championships, believes sports has taught the sisters the discipline they need, plus parents who wanted the best for the twins.
"When we were young, our parents were pushing us to do good in life," she said. "They taught us that once you set a standard, it is really unacceptable to do anything below it."
She added that the people on the Ole Miss campus, as well as tennis fans, have helped, too. "When people are encouraging, congratulating or admiring you, it is really a big motivation," she said.
Eberle, ranked No. 63 in singles and as high as No. 3 in doubles with teammate Celeste Frey, also believes sports teaches the discipline needed to be successful.
"The first year was tough - trying to understand how the system worked, keeping up with classes and tennis, but I didn't quit," she said. "I knew this is what I wanted to do."
After graduation, the twins are heading off in different directions. Ivona Mihailova has accepted a consulting position with a top accounting firm in Atlanta. Irena Mihailova starts a career with a Cleveland, Ohio, accounting firm. Eberle is looking for a journalism job, while making plans for a December marriage. She and her finance, Christopher Blaylock, plan to move back to Argentina in about five years. All three plan to keep playing tennis.
