The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebel Netters Welcome Talented Transfers
8/27/2008 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. The Ole Miss women's tennis team added two more players to the 2008-09 roster, as Connor Vogel of Germantown, Tenn., and Pippa Reakes of Bath, England, have transferred to Ole Miss head coach Mark Beyers announced Wednesday.
Vogel comes to Ole Miss from Tennessee, where she spent the past two seasons. She will have to sit out a year and will be eligible to begin competing in the fall of 2009. Reakes transferred from North Alabama and is eligible to play immediately.
"It's always great when you can get someone that has two years experience in the SEC," said Beyers about Vogel. "She's been through this and played against all these teams. That kind of experience will help the younger players on our team. Connor was a great junior player and a solid player for Tennessee. She will continue to help us in the future, but right now she will help us in practice. She can teach our younger players a lot about college tennis."
Vogel helped lead Tennessee to consecutive NCAA appearances in 2007 and 2008. Last year, she went 11-7 at No. 3 doubles with Jennifer Meredith and finished 4-4 in the SEC in singles.
As a five-star recruit out of high school, Vogel was ranked as high as No. 32 in the nation by TennisRecruiting.net. She claimed the Tennessee singles state championship in both her freshman and senior years.
As the No. 1 player at North Alabama, Reakes finished the 2008 season ranked No. 22 in the nation in Division II singles, while helping the Lions advance to the NCAA South Regional Tournament for the 10th year in a row. She was named the ITA Rookie of the Year for the South Region in addition to earning All-Gulf South Conference first team and Gulf South East Division Co-Freshman of the Year honors.
"Pippa has a very accomplished junior tennis background," Beyers said. "She's also played college tennis, even if for only one semester. She knows what it's like to be on a team. We have high expectations for her. She's a very strong player who will help out right away. We are excited to have her here as part of our program."
Ole Miss boasted the 12th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, with Mississippi native Kristi Boxx and Gabriel Rangel of Tennessee joining Vogel and Reakes as the newcomers this fall.
Those four join returnees, senior Mimi Renaudin, junior Soledad Podlipnik, and sophomores Karen Nijssen (2008 All-SEC) and Laura van de Stroet.
