Nijssen Clinches Rebel Win Over No. 16 Alabama

OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss sophomore Karen Nijssen came back from a set down at No. 2 singles, to clinch a 5-2 win over No. 16 Alabama for the Rebels Friday at the Gillom Sports Center.  With the win, the Rebels improved to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the SEC as they get set to host Auburn Sunday at 1 p.m. 

The match had to be played indoors due to inclement weather. Ole Miss gave Alabama (11-1, 2-1) its first loss of the season and snapped their program best win streak.  The Rebels did so, by winning the doubles point and the top three matches to go up 4-0 before Alabama ever got on the board.

Ole Miss dominated at No.1 doubles with 28^th-ranked Karen Nijssen and Kristi Boxx winning 8-1.  Alabama won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.  The freshman duo of Gabriela Rangel and Abigail Guthrie pulled out a 9-7 win over the Crimson Tide pair of Meritt Emery and Shelley Godwin at No. 3 doubles to clinch the point.  Serving for the point at 7-5, the Alabama duo broke Rangel’s serve and held for 7-7.  Ole Miss held serve on Guthrie’s racquet, and then broke Emery to go up 1-0.

First off the court in singles, freshman Kristi Boxx downed Alabama’s Tiffany Welcher 6-3, 6-2 to improve to 4-0 at No.1 singles.  That made it 2-0. 

Ole Miss would have to fight hard to get the next two points, as sophomores Karen Nijssen and Laura van de Stroet both lost their first sets. They both also won huge second-set tiebreakers that propelled them on to victory. They both faced match points in those tiebreakers as well.  van de Stroet won her tiebreaker 7-5 and went on for a 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.  Moments later, Nijssen finished off a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles, snapping Alabama’s three-match win streak in the series and improving Ole Miss’ overall lead to 28-12.           

Abigail Guthrie defeated Crimson Tide senior Shelley Godwin, who came in undefeated, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles for the Rebels’ fifth point. 

“This was a great team effort today,” head coach Mark Beyers said.  “To beat a team like Alabama who came in with an 11-0 record, is very impressive.  We are proud of our team.  Karen and Kristi played great at No. 1 doubles and then Gabriela and Abby closed it out at No. 3.   We had two great comebacks at two and three singles.  To be down match points in both matches, and prevail in both is unbelievable. 

“We are also happy for Abby, who got a solid win for against a senior.  This is a great way to start off the spring break week.  We have to come back Sunday and have this same level of play to beat a talented Auburn team.”

The match against Auburn will be played outside at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, weather permitting.

DOUBLES

1. Boxx/Nijssen (OM) def. Welcher/McLane (UA) 8-1

2. Bigos/Lindsey (UA) def. van de Stroet/Renaudin (OM) 8-4

3. Rangel/Guthrie (OM) def. Emery/Godwin (UA) 9-7

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES

1. Kristi Boxx (OM) def. Tiffany Welcher (UA) 6-3, 6-2

2. Karen Nijssen (OM) def. Courtney McLane (UA) 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2

3. Laura van de Stroet (OM) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-2

4. Meritt Emery (UA) def. Gabriela Rangel (OM) 6-2, 6-2

5. Abigail Guthrie (OM) def. Shelley Godwin (UA) 6-3, 6-3

6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Soledad Podlipnik (OM) 6-0, 7-5

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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