IOWA CITY, Iowa. The Ole Miss women’s tennis team fell to the University of Iowa, ranked No. 45 in the nation, 5-2 Sunday afternoon at the Iowa Parks and Recreation Complex. With the loss, the Lady Rebels dropped to 4-3 on the season, while Iowa improved to 4-0.
The doubles point was decided by a tiebreaker at No. 1, after Iowa posted an 8-2 win at No. 3, and Ole Miss got the win (8-6) at No. 2. Senior Nika Koukhartchouk and freshman Karen Nijssen came into the match 5-1 at No. 1 doubles, but dropped the tiebreaker 7-5 to Jacqueline Lee and Alexis Dorr as Iowa took the 1-0 lead.
In singles, Iowa jumped on the Lady Rebels early and never let up. Ole Miss came in a combined 9-1 at the top two spots in singles with Koukhartchouk and Nijssen, but both lost in straight sets. For Nijssen, it was her first loss of the season.
Iowa also gained straight-set victories on courts four and six. Lady Rebel freshman Laura van de Stroet defeated Hawkeye Merel Beelen 6-4, 7-5 at No. 3 singles, and senior Preethi Subramanian downed Kelcie Klockenga 6-3, 6-2 for Ole Miss’ only two wins in singles.
The Lady Rebels return home to host South Alabama Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, weather permitting.
#45 Iowa 5
Ole Miss 2
DOUBLES
1. Lee/Dorr (UI) def. Koukhartchouk/Nijssen (OM) 9-8(5)
2. van de Stroet/Renaudin (OM) def. Veselinovic/Beelen (UI) 8-6
3. Berry/Poggensee-Wei (UI) def. Podlipnik/Subramanian (OM) 8-2
SINGLES
1. Milica Veselinovic (UI) def. Nika Koukhartchouk (OM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jacqueline Lee (UI) def. Karen Nijssen (OM) 6-2, 6-2
3. Laura van de Stroet (OM) def. Merel Beelen (UI) 6-4, 7-5
4. Alexis Dorr (UI) def. Soledad Podlipnik (OM) 6-2, 6-3
5. Preethi Subramanian (OM) def. Kelcie Klockenga (UI) 6-3, 6-2
6. Lynne Poggensee-Wei (UI) def. Mimi Renaudin (OM) 6-2, 6-1
