The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis Signs Russian Standout
5/6/2004 | Women's Tennis
May 6, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Nika Koukhartchouk of Russia, has signed a national letter of intent to play tennis at the University of Mississippi beginning in the 2004-05 academic year, head coach Mark Beyers announced Thursday.
"We are excited to have another signee in addition to the already strong class we signed in the early signing period," Beyers said. "Nika is a very young, talented player, who has just turned 17. She has a lot of potential, because she is still so young. We look forward to getting her here and working with her for four years. She is a hard worker and eager to get her feet wet in American college tennis."
Koukhartchouk was ranked No. 3 in Russia in under 16s. She reached the quarterfinals of the Russian National Championship 18 and under in 2002 and the main draw in 2003. Koukchartchouk has won 10 tournaments in her career since the age of 14. She also excelled in other sports as well, participating in basketball and track and field.
Koukhartchouk becomes the third signee for the Lady Rebels for the 2004-05 year, joining Mimi Renaudin (Mandeville, La.), who joined the team in time for the spring semester after graduating high school in December, and Carlin Cochran of Dublin, Ga.
