The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
ITA Regional Championships
Boxx, Nijssen To Play For Titles At ITA Regional
10/26/2009 | Women's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. -- Kristi Boxx and Karen Nijssen of the Ole Miss women's tennis team will play for the singles and doubles titles at the ITA Southern Regional Monday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center, with a berth in the ITA National Indoor on the line. The winner of the singles and doubles earns a spot in the ITA National Indoor in November.
In singles, Boxx, ranked No. 25 in the nation, will face Auburn's Fani Chifchieva, ranked No. 10, in the final at 11:30 a.m. The Grenada, Miss., native downed Nicole Kantor of LSU 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals and then came back from a tough tiebreaker in the first set to defeat Alabama's Courtney McLane, ranked No. 61, 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-1.
Chifchieva had to beat two Rebels on her way to the final and she barely escaped sophomore Abigail Guthrie in the quarterfinals. The first set went to a tiebreaker, with Guthrie winning it 7-6(5). Guthrie had chances to take the match, but Chifchieva showed why she is ranked No. 10, coming back to win the final two sets 6-4, 6-4.
In the semifinals, Rebel Nijssen fell victim to Chifchieva 6-3, 6-2 after beating teammate Connor Vogel 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
Before Boxx plays her singles match, she will team up with Nijssen in the doubles final against McClane and her partner, Alexa Guarachi. The ninth-ranked Reb duo defeated teammates Soledad Podlipnik and Guthrie 9-7 in the semifinals.
Vogel and Gabriela Rangel lost to Mclane and Guarachi in the other semifinal match, 8-3.
"It was another good day for the Rebels," head coach Mark Beyers said. "I am especially proud of Abby, who played a great match against one of the top players in the country. She had chances, but credit to Chifchieva for finding a way to win. This will definitely help her during the year. As far as the other matches, it's always hard to play teammates. In the end, win or lose the finals, we've had a great showing. We've beaten a lot of SEC competition."
To find out if the Rebels claim the titles on Monday, check back at www.OleMissSports.com for a complete recap.
ITA SOUTHERN REGIONAL -- AUBURN, Ala.
SINGLES
Quarterfinals -- Fani Chifchieva (AUB) def. Abigail Guthrie (OM) 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4; Karen Njissen (OM) def. Connor Vogel (OM) 6-4, 6-0; Kristi Boxx (OM) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 6-2, 6-3. Semifinals -- Boxx (OM) def. Courtney McClane (UA) 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-1; Chifchieva (AUB) def. Njissen (OM) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
Semifinals -- Boxx/Nijssen (OM) def. Soledad Podlipnik/Guthrie (OM) 9-7; McLane/Guarachi (UA) def. Vogel/Gabriela Rangel (OM) 8-3.
