The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tunica Invitational
Lady Rebel Netter Wins USTA Wildcard Tournament
9/12/2004 | Women's Tennis
Sept. 12, 2004
TUNICA, Miss. - Ole Miss women's tennis senior Chloe Carlotti, won the Tunica National Invitational this weekend, defeating teammate Nika Koukhartchouk in the final. As the winner, Carlotti receives a wildcard into the maindraw of the USTA Challenger to be held at the Tunica National Golf and Tennis Center Sept. 20-26, while Koukhartchouk earns a wildcard into the qualifying for the challenger.
Carlotti, ranked No. 43 in the ITA preseason national rankings, beat Koukhartchouk, a native of Russia, 6-2, 6-3, in the final on Sunday. After a first-round bye, Carlotti, a two-time All-American, downed K. Meichner 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Carlotti dominated Anamika Bhargava of Collierville, Tenn., 6-0, 6-1.
Koukhartchouk cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Ashley Murdock in the first round and then defeated Nina Sogard, 6-0, 7-6(4) in the quarterfinals.
The other semifinal pitted redshirt freshman Mimi Renaudin of Mandeville, La., against Koukhartchouk. Renaudin, who had a first-round bye, turned in a 6-1, 6-4 win over Samantha Powers in the quarterfinals to set up what would turn out to be an exciting semifinal match between two teammates.
Renaudin took the first set 6-3, but Koukhartchouk came back to win the final two sets, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the final.
Two other Lady Rebels made their debut at the tournament. Freshman Carlin Cochran of Dublin, Ga., lost her first round match to Bhargava in a tight 6-4, 6-4 decision, and Sarah Sabin of Stewart, Fla., lost her first round match in three sets to Powers.
"We are very pleased with the way all our players played," head coach Mark Beyers said. "It was quality tennis the entire weekend. We are very excited about the rest of the year and look forward to showcasing our team in two weeks as we host the Ole Miss Fall Classic."
The Lady Rebels will return to the courts Sept. 24-26 as they welcome several schools from around the South to the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center for the second annual Ole Miss Fall Classic.
Tunica National Invitational - Tunica, Miss. First round - Samantha Powers def. Sarah Sabin (OM) 6-3, 0-6, 6-1; Nika Koukhartchouk (OM) def. Ashley Murdock, 6-3, 6-1; Anamika Bhargava def. Carlin Cochran (OM) 6-4, 6-4; K. Meichner def. Claire Conerly (OM) 6-3, 6-3. Quarterfinals - Mimi Renaudin (OM) def. Samantha Powers, 6-1, 6-4; Koukhartchouk (OM) def. Nina Sogard, 6-1, 7-6(4); Bhargava def. Virginia Tomatis (OM) 7-6(5), 6-1; Chloe Carlotti (OM) def. Meichner, 6-0, 6-3. Semifinals - Koukhartchouk (OM) def. Renaudin (OM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Carlotti (OM) def. Bhargava, 6-0, 6-1. Final - Carlotti (OM) def. Koukhartchouk (OM) 6-2, 6-3.
