The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Host Top-15 Opponents this Weekend
3/16/2016 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's tennis team looks to bounce back from a tough road trip last weekend, as they host No. 13 Florida and No. 9 South Carolina Friday and Sunday.
The Rebels will face the Gators Friday at 3 p.m., followed by the Gamecocks Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, weather permitting, and admission is free.
Promotions…
Fans coming to Friday's match against Florida will receive a free Ole Miss Tennis towel. On Sunday, fans will enjoy free sundaes.
Last time out…
Ole Miss dropped two very close 4-3 matches on the road last weekend at No. 15 LSU and at No. 16 Texas A&M and come into the weekend 8-3 overall and 1-3 in the SEC.
Scouting Florida…
Florida comes into the match at 9-2 overall, 4-0 in the SEC. They are coming off wins over No. 18 Kentucky and No. 5 Vanderbilt at home last weekend. The Gators boast a nation-leading six players in the singles rankings, led by No. 5 Belinda Woolcock and No. 15 Brooke Austin. Austin owns a 7-2 record at No. 1 singles and Woolcock is 6-2 at No. 2. The Gators also have two teams in the top 25 in doubles. Austin teams with Kourtney Keegan at No. 7, and Josie Kuhlman and Woolcock are ranked No. 22.
Looking at South Carolina…
South Carolina entered the top 10 in the rankings for the first time since 1983, after knocking off top-20 opponents No. 5 Vanderbilt and No. 18 Kentucky last weekend. The Gamecocks are off to their best start since 2009 at 12-2 overall, including a 4-0 start in SEC play for the first time since 2003. Nine of their 12 wins have come against ranked opponents. South Carolina has two players in the singles rankings, Caroline Dailey, ranked No. 109, and Paige Cine, ranked No. 110.
Rebels vs. Florida and South Carolina ...
The Rebels dropped a tight 5-2 match to Florida last year in Gainesville. Florida won two tiebreakers to take the doubles point and then picked up singles wins at Nos. five, six and two. Sophomore Natalie Suk upset Belinda Woolcock, ranked No. 32 at the time, in three sets. South Carolina defeated the Rebels 4-2 last year in Columbia.
Top of the Lineup…
The Rebels are a combined 19-7 at the top of the lineup. Arianne Hartono is 7-2 at No. 1 singles, Natalie Suk is 5-3 at No. 2 and Mai El Kamash is 5-2 at No. 3 singles. Suk played one match at No. 1 and El Kamash played once at No. 2.
Double Trouble…
After dropping the doubles point in their first two dual matches, the Rebels have won it five of the last six matches. Arianne Hartono and Mai El Kamash improved to 10-5 overall and 6-1 at No. 1 doubles.
Quoting Head Coach Mark Beyers…
"We are excited to be home after a tough road trip. We have had a great week of practice and the girls are looking forward to playing two top-12 programs in Florida and South Carolina on our home courts."
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Also follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
