The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebel Netters Set To Open 2008 Sunday At Home
1/18/2008 | Women's Tennis
For the first time since 2004, the team features three seniors. Nika Koukhartchouk, Mimi Renaudin and Preethi Subramanian started their careers in the spring of 2005.
All three began their careers at the same time, as champions. They would like to go out as champions.
“My biggest goal is not only to stay healthy, but to win the West,” said Renaudin. “We have the talent to do that this year. If we win the West, we can set ourselves up to get a good draw in the NCAA (Championships).”
Both Subramanian and Koukhartchouk concur, saying they want to get the team back in the rankings in addition to winning the SEC West and making it to the final 16 at NCAAs.
"With a solid mixture of youth and experience, we believe this could be a very successful year for the Lady Rebels,” seventh-year head coach Mark Beyers said. “The freshman class has the ability to make an immediate impact, and help us in all areas of the lineup.
“The returning players have gained valuable experience over the last four years, and undoubtedly will utilize that. Most of the players who missed time last year due to injury, have returned and are ready to go. As always, winning the SEC Western Division is on the top of our To-Do’ list. If we succeed there, we will automatically achieve some of our other goals as far as national ranking, by virtue of the tremendous toughness of this conference top to bottom.”
Sophomore Soledad Podlipnik returns for her second season with the Lady Rebels. The youth that Beyers referred to includes freshmen Laura van de Stroet and Yana Kireeva, who both played in the fall and had some good results. Freshman Karen Nijssen will see her first action as a Lady Rebel this Sunday.
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Admission to all home matches is free.
