The University of Mississippi Athletics
A Proven Winner
11/9/2004 | Women's Tennis
Nov. 9, 2004
By Kim Ling
Associate Athletics Media Relations Director
"It's a great day for Ole Miss women's tennis," head coach Mark Beyers said in January of 2004 when he announced that one of the nation's top players, Chloe Carlotti, was transfering to Ole Miss. He continued by saying, "any time you can get someone of her caliber to join your team, it's huge. In Chloe, we are getting a player who has two years of collegiate experience at the highest level. She is a proven winner."
Carlotti came to Ole Miss from Fresno State, where she put her name on the collegiate tennis map. In just two seasons, she became the most decorated player in Fresno State history. Carlotti became the first player in Fresno State history to achieve All-America honors more than once, earning the honor as a freshman and sophomore. She finished the 2003 season with a 29-8 overall record and ranked No. 10 in singles.
The 2003 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Carlotti participated in the NCAA Championships in singles and doubles. In 2002, she advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA Singles Championships.
Prior to the start of the 2003-04 season, Fresno State's coach left to take another job. Carlotti decided she wanted a change as well. She began looking at other schools. After several phone calls with Beyers, Carlotti decided Ole Miss was the place for her.
"My brother was here, and when I came to visit (in the fall) I liked the school a lot," Carlotti said. "The girls on the team were nice. They all got a long, which is something I think is very important to be successful."
She grew up in the city of lights. She began her college career at a school nearly twice the size of Ole Miss. Carlotti admits it took some time to get used to the small southern charm of Oxford and the slow-paced life at Ole Miss.
"I was at Fresno, which is bigger than Oxford obviously, but not too big," Carlotti said. "I think if I would have come directly from Paris, it would have been more of a shock. I like it here. It's been a good experience, but I want to go back to a bigger city after I graduate."
While she had to adjust to a new way of life in Oxford, Carlotti also had to adjust to playing in the toughest league in the nation, the Southeastern Conference. She did just that, posting a 6-5 record at No. 1 singles against the SEC and teamed with junior Virginia Tomatis for an 8-3 conference record at No. 1 doubles. The pair earned All-SEC honors. Carlotti participated in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships for the third consecutive year.
"Playing in the SEC is a lot different than when I was at Fresno," Carlotti said. "There, I just played my matches. Here you have rivalries and the matches are bigger. I remember one place we went and the other team was like `we have to beat this team' and I just tried to play my match and not get caught up in all the rivalry stuff. The competition is so much tougher all throughout the conference that you have to be ready to play every time out.
"It was hard at first, to come in January and start with a new partner in doubles," Carlotti said. "Vicki and I had a lot of fun, and we played well."
The Lady Rebels were glad to get a player of Carlotti's caliber not only for what she contributes on the court, but in the classroom as well. Carlotti was a scholar-athlete at Fresno State and she continued that trend in her first semester at Ole Miss, making the Dean's List.
With tennis being an individual sport, it might be hard to understand Carlotti's impact on the team. Her work ethic and determination to succeed made her one of the top players in the country prior to coming to Ole Miss. She brought a sense of what it takes to get to the highest level and Beyers is happy she chose Ole Miss.
"To have a player of her caliber choose to come here after she's already made a name for herself, says a lot about what we've been able to accomplish in the past, and where we want to go," Beyers said. "With Carlotti at the top and the exciting newcomers we have, this could be a special year."
As she begins her senior year, Carlotti hopes to lead the Lady Rebels back to the NCAA Championships.
"I would like to help the team have a successful year and make it back to the NCAA Championships," Carlotti said. "We have a lot of great newcomers, and we've been working hard this fall. Individually, I want to win all my matches and earn All-America honors here, since it's my last year."
She is already off to a good start this fall. She won three matches in the qualifying tournament at the ITA Riviera All-American Championships to reach the main draw. In the main draw, Carlotti posted a huge 6-4, 6-2 win over the nation's No. 6 ranked player.
The Lady Rebels have not been to the NCAA Championships since 2002. This year, the Lady Rebels are hoping that with Carlotti at the top, and a solid group of newcomers, they'll be sitting there on selection day not hoping to hear their name called, but wondering who their first opponent will be.
