The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis Ready For SEC Tournament
4/19/2005 | Women's Tennis
April 19, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's tennis team, seeded No. 7 in the SEC Tournament, opens play Thursday in Tuscaloosa, Ala, against the No. 10 seed, Alabama. The two teams will square off at 2 p.m. at the UA Varsity Courts.
Ole Miss downed in-state rival Mississippi State 6-1 last Friday to capture the SEC Western Division Championship. This marks the first ever SEC West title for the Lady Rebels, who defeated every team in the SEC West. The five SEC wins this season is the most for the Lady Rebels since the 2000 season when they went 8-3 in the league.
When Ole Miss clinched the SEC Western Division Championship last Friday, head coach Mark Beyers earned his fourth conference title of any kind as a head coach. He won three Peach Belt Conference Championships as the head women's coach at Division II Armstrong Atlantic University. Beyers was also a part of two SEC Championships (1996 and 1997) as an assistant coach with the Rebels from 1996-2001.
Senior Chloe Carlotti leads the team with a 14-6 record at No. 1 singles and teams with junior Virginia Tomatis for a 16-4 record at No. 1 doubles.
The Lady Rebel freshmen were a huge part in Ole Miss winning the SEC West. Preethi Subramanian, Nika Koukhartchouk and Mimi Renaudin have combined for a 21-11 record in the SEC.
"We are obviously excited to be SEC Western Division Champions," Beyers said. "We have been working hard this week in practice to maintain the momentum, and we are looking forward to the SEC Tournament. It's never easy to play the host team in the first round, especially with a good crowd behind them. But, we will be ready."
Alabama enters the SEC Tournament with a 3-8 league record, 8-13 overall. The Crimson Tide is led by Robin Stephenson, who is ranked No. 7 in the nation with a 14-7 record at No. 1 singles. Ashley Bentley, ranked No. 59, owns a 16-5 record at No. 2 singles. Stephenson also teams with Natalie McElveen for a 6-4 record at No. 1 doubles. The Crimson Tide finished the regular season with a 7-5 home record.
Ole Miss leads the all-time series 26-9. The Lady Rebels snapped a two-match losing streak to the Crimson Tide with this year's 5-2 win in Oxford. The last time the two teams met in Tuscaloosa (2003), Alabama came away with a 5-2 victory. The two last met in the SEC Tournament in 2002 with Ole Miss winning 4-0.
The winner of Thursday's match will face the No. 2 seed, Vanderbilt, in the quarterfinals Friday at 2 p.m.
To follow the Lady Rebels throughout the SEC Tournament, go to www.olemisssports.com and click on the SEC Women's Tennis Championship logo.
