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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels To Host A Pair Of Matches This Weekend
2/22/2012 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 24 ranked Ole Miss women's tennis team continues its three-match homestand this weekend with a pair of matches against Southern Miss and No. 19 Tulsa. The Rebels will welcome the Golden Eagles Friday at 1 p.m.
Both matches are scheduled to be played at the newly renovated Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, weather permitting. At Sunday's Noon match against Tulsa fans will enjoy free pizza.
"This is a big weekend for us," head coach Mark Beyers said. "We have two good matches, especially the one against Tulsa. They're ranked in the top 20 and that's where we want to be. It's a great measuring stick for us. These are the kind of matches that if we want to get into the top 20 and in the conversation of hosting NCAA Regionals, we have to win them. It's a great challenge for our team, and we are looking forward to it."
In their last match, the Rebels downed SMU 6-1 to improve to 5-4 on the season and 10-1 in home openers under Coach Beyers. Erin Stephens earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after she rallied to defeat SMU's Elena Fayner at No. 3 singles to put the Rebels up 3-1 in the match, setting up teammate Abby Guthrie's clinching win at No. 5 singles. After dropping the first set, Stephens won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
"It's great for her," Beyers said. "Playing No. 3 as a freshman against the team's that we've played, is rough. From a win-loss standpoint, it looked like she wasn't doing that well, but she played some good tennis in Virginia. I was happy that she was able to pull off a close match the other day. It's one of those things that when you're playing well, but not able to get any wins, it eats at your confidence a little. This was good for her confidence to know that she was playing better tennis."
Sophomore Caroline Rohde-Moe improved to 17-4 overall and 7-1 at No. 2 singles. She has won seven of her last eight and is ranked No. 74 in the latest ITA National Rankings. Senior Kristi Boxx is ranked No. 20 in singles and No. 5 in doubles with Abby Guthrie.
Southern Miss comes into the match with a 1-4 overall record. Their lone win came against Jacksonville State.
On Sunday, the Rebels will face their fifth Top 25 opponent of the season in No. 19 Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane (6-1) is led by sophomore Samantha Vickers, who is ranked No. 61 in singles with a 17-3 overall record.
"We saw them this fall at a tournament. They're a good team, well-coached. They play good doubles, and they're strong from top to bottom," Beyers said. "It's going to be a tough match, a battle. They're definitely deserving of the top 20 ranking, and we're going to have to play good tennis to beat them."
Admission to all home matches is free. This weekend's matches will also feature live scoring and a live blog.
Follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissWTennis and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissWTennis.
