The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Arkansas
No. 17 Women's Tennis Defeats Arkansas 6-1
3/30/2012 | Women's Tennis
March 30, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 17 nationally ranked Ole Miss women's tennis team picked up a crucial road win in the SEC Friday, without All-American Kristi Boxx in singles, taking out No. 29 Arkansas 6-1 to keep pace in the SEC Western Division. The Rebels travel to Baton Rouge, La., Sunday to face LSU at 1 p.m.
The Rebels (12-7, 4-3) captured the doubles point to take the early 1-0 lead. After the freshmen duo of Iris Verboven and Julia Jones won 8-6 No. 3 doubles, the sixth-ranked senior tandem of Kristi Boxx and Abby Guthrie finished off an 8-3 win at No. 1 to secure the point.
With Boxx out of singles, everybody moved up in the lineup. The Rebels answered with all three freshmen contributing big wins.
Verboven was first off the court, downing Catherine Parenteau 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6. Jones took out Claudine Paulson 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3 singles, and then Erin Stephens
completed a 6-3, 6-2 win against Stephanie Roy at No. 2 to clinch the victory.
"This was a very solid win versus the No. 29 team in the country, especially given the fact that we played without Kristi in singles," head coach Mark Beyers said. "I am proud of the girls for stepping up when they had to play a spot higher than their usual position. Arkansas is a very tough well-coached team, and beating them in Fayetteville is no easy task. Now we'll move our focus to LSU, another tough road match."
Guthrie added a three-set win at No. 4, and sophomore Caroline Rhode-Moe picked up a three-set win at No. 1 to finish out the scoring.
Sunday's match will feature live scoring, which can be accessed by going to www.OleMissSports.com and clicking on the link in the calendar.
Follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissWTennis and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissWTennis.
