The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis Set To Open SEC Play This Weekend
2/26/2002 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's tennis team will host a pair of top ranked teams this weekend as they begin SEC play. Up first for the Lady Rebels, will be No. 5 Florida on Friday at 1 p.m., at either the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center or the Gillom Sports Center depending on the weather.
The Lady Rebels, ranked No. 36 in the latest national rankings, enter the opening weekend of SEC play with a 6-1 overall record. It has been nearly two weeks since Ole Miss last played, a 7-0 loss at No. 9 Texas on Feb. 17.
Junior Mira Radu, who is ranked No. 12 in the nation, leads the Lady Rebels with a 25-8 overall record, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Senior Alesya Ignatieva is 6-0 in dual matches. She also teams with Audra Adams at No. 1 doubles for a 5-1 record.
Florida comes into the weekend with a 3-0 record. They also haven't played in two weeks. In their last match, the Lady Gators defeated Florida State and South Florida by indentical scores of 6-1. The Lady Gators are led by senior and No. 2 ranked Jessica Lehnhoff, who owns a 11-1 overall record. Lehnhoff teamed with former All-American Whitney Laiho to win the 2001 NCAA Doubles title.
On Sunday, the Lady Rebels will face No. 27 South Carolina, who enters SEC play with a 6-1 record. The Gamecocks are coming off a 7-0 shutout over North Carolina State. Georgia Tech defeated USC 4-2, for their only loss on the season. The Gamecocks are led by 85th-ranked Katarina Markovski. Since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, Ole Miss holds an 8-2 advantage in the series.
