The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Jones Joins 100-Club
4/6/2015 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss women's tennis senior Julia Jones joined the program in the fall of 2011 as a heralded recruit from St. Petersburg, Florida. Monday, she cemented her place as one of the top players in school history.
Jones became the seventh player in program history to record 100 wins in singles with a straight set win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, as the Rebels won the match 6-0.Â
"I am really excited to be the seventh player to accomplish this," Jones said. "I didn't even know I was close to it when the season started. I saw something where it said I had 82 wins and that's kind of when the countdown started. After I would win a match, everyone would say to me `16 more or whatever.'"
Head coach Mark Beyers has coached some great players at Ole Miss, first as an assistant with the men and then as the leader of the women's team. Jones stands out because she came in and worked her way to the top of the lineup.
"There are a lot of really great players who have played for this program over the years," Beyers said. "To be the seventh member of that exclusive club is pretty neat. Wherever we put her in the lineup, she kept winning and played her way up the lineup. She's having a great year, and hopefully that will continue. We are excited and proud for her."
While Monday's 100th win might have been a little easier, Jones has had plenty of tough matches along the way, including beating some top-ranked players this year on her way to her current ranking of No. 14.
"Thinking back, I would have to say winning regionals was big for me, just because I was coming off an injury," she said. "That was my first tournament back, so all those wins were big, especially the final, winning 7-6 in the third."
Jones joins a group that includes All-Americans and All-SEC honorees Paloma Collantes (123), Agnes Muzamel (122), Courtenay Chapman (114), Mira Radu (108), Ivona Mihailova (105) and Marie-Laure Bougnol (102).
"Courtenay is awesome; she's been a really big mentor to me," said Jones, who often hits with Chapman (Teaching pro at River Hills Club in Jackson) when she is back home in McComb in the summer. She and TJ (Middleton -- Chapman's husband) have been a big part of my success these last four years. They definitely helped me get to where I am today."
Jones' 100th career win gave her 27 for the year and she is now 17-4 at No. 1 singles. She needs three more wins to become the 10th player to record 30 in a season.
"We know that Julia's going to give it her best each time out and fight from beginning to end," Beyers added. "It's nice knowing that she is going to give you a good opportunity to win. She's improved so much from her freshman year. Back then when things didn't go her way, she wasn't able to stay in matches, like she is now. If you look at her scores this year, she's played her best tennis at some of the most critical moments. That's what defines great players."
Jones and the Rebels host Mississippi State Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final home match for Jones and fellow seniors Erin Stephens and Iris Verboven. After that is the SEC Tournament in Columbia, South Carolina followed by what is expected to be the Rebels' seventh consecutive NCAA appearance. Jones has also positioned herself to become an All-American.
"Being an All-American has been my goal since I started here," she said. "Hopefully I get there, that would be amazing. To have this accomplishment along with being an All-American would be something special to end my career here."
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter, @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis.
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