The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Little Rock Country Club Invitational
Rebels Win Doubles at UNLV Invite
9/27/2015 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's tennis team kicked off the fall season this weekend winning the doubles title at the UNLV Invitational and playing for two singles titles as well in Las Vegas and Little Rock, Arkansas.
UNLV Fall Invitational
In Las Vegas, junior Zalina Khairudinova and freshman Allie Sanford teamed up to win the Flight 1 doubles, defeating Blanka Szavay and Hanneke Lodewijks of Northern Arizona 8-6 in the final. Khairudinova also played for the Flight 2 singles title, but lost a close match to UNLV's Paola Artiga 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. In the third place match of Flight 1 singles sophomore Natalie Suk defeated Aiwen Zhu of UNLV 7-6, 6-1. Senior Mai El Kamash defeated Maeva Razakasoa of Long Beach State 6-1, 6-3 in the consolation final. In the Flight 2 consolation final, Sanford defeated Julie Gerard (LBSU) 6-4, 6-4. In the Flight 1 doubles consolation final, Suk/El Kamash defeated Aiwen Zhu and Cristina Moroi (UNLV) 8-6.
Quoting Head Coach Mark Beyers
"This early in the season, we need a lot of matches, and that is exactly what we got. I am very excited about what I saw this weekend. Allie and Zalina were able to pick up a title in their very first tournament together. In singles, everybody went 2-1 in a very solid field."
Country Club of Little Rock Invitational
In Little Rock, sophomore Arianne Hartono made it to the singles final for the second year in a row, but was unable to defend her title form a year ago, dropping a tight 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 match to Vladic Babic of Oklahoma State. Freshman Tea Jandric advanced to the semifinals of the A Draw and before losing a close match to Babic.
Quoting Associate Head Coach Jason Ontog
"I am very proud of the way the girls competed all weekend. We had some great performances and got some much needed match experience. It was a good way to start the year."
Next up
Three Rebels will represent Ole Miss in the year's first major, the Riviera All-American Championships, which takes place Oct. 3-11 in Pacific Palisades, California. Arianne Hartono earned a spot in the qualifying singles tournament, while Mai El Kamash and Natalie Suk will begin play in the prequalifying tournament. They are also in the doubles qualifying.
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Also follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
Players Mentioned
