The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis Seeks NCAA Sweet 16 Berth
5/13/2010 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - Last year the Ole Miss women's tennis team was thrilled to be back in the NCAA Championships after a four-year absence. This year the Rebels hope to be headed north on I-20 next week.
Ole Miss, ranked No. 17 nationally, earned its 13th overall NCAA appearance and second straight. For the second year in a row, they are in Atlanta, Ga., for the first and second rounds. The Final 16 will be played in Athens, Ga., May 20-25.
If Ole Miss (15-5) can get by UC Irvine in the first round Friday at 9 a.m., they could earn another shot at Georgia Tech, who ended the Rebels season last year in the second round. Georgia Tech faces Austin Peay in the other first round match.
"There's been a 2 ½ week gap between SECs and NCAAs, so I know the girls are ready to go. I am glad exams are over, so we can really focus on this first round match with UC Irvine," head coach Mark Beyers said. "We've had great practices this last week, and we can't wait to play on Friday."
The Rebels captured their first ever outright SEC Western Division Championship this year, earned their highest finish in the SEC (2nd) since 1999 and posted their best league record (8-3) since 2000.
Different players at different times have stepped up to lead the Rebels this year including All-SEC first team honorees Kristi Boxx and Connor Vogel and second team selections Karen Nijssen and Laura van de Stroet.
This will be UC Irvine's second trip to the NCAA Championships and first since 2007. The Anteaters won their first ever Big West Tournament title to earn an automatic bid. They are led by All-Big West first team selection Courtney Byron.
"They've won six matches in a row and won the Big West. They're a dangerous team, so we have to be ready to play," Beyers said. "The good thing about playing in the SEC, our girls aren't going to be intimidated by anything they see. We'll be ready. We know UC Irvine is a good team and that we'll have to play well. I am convinced that we can do that and that we will."
To follow the Rebels in Atlanta, go to www.OleMissSports.com and click on the live stats link in the Rebel Hub.
