The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebel Netters Earn ITA South Regional Rankings
12/6/2005 | Women's Tennis
Dec. 6, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Four Ole Miss women's tennis players earned ITA South Regional Rankings this fall, led by junior Ilona Somers, who is ranked No. 15.
One of the top regions in the country, the South had four teams finish ranked among the top 15 in the nation in 2005, including Florida (No. 2), Georgia Tech (No. 6) and Georgia (No. 9).
Somers, who began the fall ranked No. 100 in the nation, finished with an 8-4 record, including winning the Ole Miss Fall Classic.
Freshman Kseniia Tokarieva made a name for herself this fall in her debut and was rewarded with a No. 23 ranking in the South Region. She reached the finals of the Blue Draw at the Ole Miss Fall Classic and concluded the fall by reaching the semifinals of the B Draw at the SEC Coaches Classic for an 8-3 ledger.
Sophomore Nika Koukhartchouk began the season ranked No. 59 in the nation, but missed much of the fall with an ankle injury. She earned a regional ranking of No. 25. Koukhartchouk posted a 21-12 overall record, 14-7 in dual matches in her first season with the Lady Rebels last year. She went 8-3 in the nation's toughest conference at Nos. 2 and 3 singles to help the Lady Rebels capture the SEC West title.
Ole Miss had two doubles teams garner a regional ranking with Somers and Virginia Tomatis at No. 7, and Koukhartchouk and Tokarieva at No. 13. Somers and Tomatis posted a 9-4 record and won the Ole Miss Fall Classic.
The Lady Rebels open the 2006 season Jan. 28 when they host Tennessee-Chattanooga.
