Women's Tennis Defeats No. 20 Kentucky 5-2

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The 27th-ranked Ole Miss women’s tennis team rallied from losing a tight doubles point to take down No. 20 Kentucky 5-2 Friday afternoon at the Boone Tennis Complex.  With the win, the Rebels improved to 10-6 overall and 3-4 in the SEC as they get set to face No. 20 Vanderbilt Sunday at Noon.

The match had to be played indoors due to inclement weather.  Kentucky (11-6, 2-5) gained the early 1-0 lead by winning a tight doubles point.  The Rebel duo of Kristi Boxx and Karen Nijssen downed 40th-ranked Carolina Escamilla and Caroline Lilley 8-2 at No.1.   Kentucky answered with two tiebreakers at courts two and three.  Megan Broderick and Christine Johnston defeated Gabriela Rangel and Abigail Guthrie 9-8(2), and then Lauren Meier and Whitney Spencer edged Laura van de Stroet and Mimi Renaudin 9-8(5) at No. 3 to clinch the point.

Ole Miss rebounded nicely in singles, winning the first set on all six courts.  Nijssen was first off the court, defeating Broderick 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2.  Boxx gave Ole Miss a 2-1 lead with her 6-2, 6-4 win over Carolina Escamilla at No. 1 singles.  With the win, Boxx improved to 5-2 in the SEC.

van de Stroet increased the Rebels’ lead to 3-1 by holding off UK’s Meier in three sets.  The Rebel sophomore won the first set 6-4 and then Meier came back to take the second 7-5, before van de Stroet won the third 6-3.

Guthrie has been a rock at No. 5 singles for Ole Miss this year, and she answered the bell again, topping UK’s Spencer, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 to clinch the victory. 

“This was a great road win after losing the doubles point in dramatic fashion,” head coach Mark Beyers said.   “We came back and won all six first sets in singles.  Now we have to go out and win our match on Sunday.”

When the match was clinched, Kentucky won on No. 4, and then OM’s Renaudin finished off her 6-2, 7-5 win over Wildcat Jennifer Stone at No. 6.

To follow the Rebels during Sunday’s match at Vanderbilt, go to www.OleMissSports.com and click on the live scoring link in the calendar box.             

DOUBLES

1. Boxx/Nijssen (OM) def. Escamilla/Lilley (UK) 8-2

2. Broderick/Johnston (UK) def. Rangel/Guthrie (OM) 9-8(2)

3. Meier/Spencer (UK) def. van de Stroet/Renaudin (OM) 9-8(5)

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES

1. Kristi Boxx (OM) def. Carolina Escamilla (UK) 6-2, 6-4

2. Karen Nijssen (OM) def. Megan Broderick (UK) 6-4, 6-4

3. Laura van de Stroet (OM) def. Lauren Meier (UK) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

4. Christine Johnston (UK) def. Gabriela Rangel (OM) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(6)

5. Abigail Guthrie (OM) def. Whitney Spencer (UK) 6-3, 6-3

6. Mimi Renaudin (OM) def. Jennifer Stone (UK) 6-2, 7-5

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

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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