The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
LSU - ITA Kick-Off Weekend
Women's Tennis Books Ticket to National Team Indoor
1/29/2017 | Women's Tennis
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Ole Miss women's tennis made history Sunday, becoming the first No. 4 seed in women's ITA Kick-Off history to advance to the National Team Indoor Championships, as they defeated LSU 4-2 in the championship match at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
The Rebels won a huge doubles point to gain the early momentum. Arianne Hartono and Anna Vrbenska came away with a 6-4 win at No. 1 and then Zalina Khairudinova and Tea Jandric earned a big win 7-6(4) at No. 3 to clinch the point.
With the lead in hand, the Rebels won four first sets in singles to maintain momentum. LSU tied the match with a win at No. 1 singles, but Natalie Suk quickly gave the lead back to the Rebels with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles against Joanna Vale Costa.
Khairudinova put Ole Miss up 3-1 when she finished off Jessica Golovin 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, leaving the Rebels with three matches left to get the final point.
LSU's Ryann Foster pulled the Tigers within one briefly with a win at No.3 singles against Rebel freshman Anna Vrbenska.
With freshman Alexa Bortles in the early stages of the third set at No. 6 singles, Jandric made sure it would not be necessary, as she finished off LSU's Skylar Holloway 6-2, 6-4 at No. 5 singles for the 4-2 victory.
At the net...
• The Rebels improved to 4-0
• Ole Miss became the first No. 4 seed in women's ITA Kick-Off history to advance to the National Team Indoor
• The Rebels advanced to the National Team Indoor for the first time since 2012
• The Rebels snapped a two-match losing streak to LSU
• Tea Jandric went 4-0 in doubles and singles this weekend
Complete results
Doubles
1. Hartono/Vrbenska (OM) def. Foster/Vale Costa (LSU) 6-4
2. Bortles/ Suk (OM) vs. Golovin/Hollaway (LSU) 6-6, sus.
3. Khairudinova/Jandric (OM) def. Lewis/Owens (LSU) 7-6(4)
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. Jade Lewis (LSU) def. #31 Arianne Hartono (OM) 6-3, 6-0
2. Natalie Suk (OM) def. Joanna Vale Costa (LSU), 6-3, 6-1
3. #83 Ryann Foster (LSU) def. Anna Vrbenska (OM) 6-4, 6-2
4. Zalina Khairudinova (OM) def. Jessica Golovin (LSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Tea Jandric (OM) def. Skylar Holloway (LSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Alexa Bortles (OM) vs. Abby Owens (LSU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-1, sus.
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 4, 3, 5
Thoughts from head coach Mark Beyers...
"We played a very good team match today. We were able to win a monster doubles point in a tiebreak and then won four first sets in singles. Great individual efforts by our kids to come up with the three singles wins."
On Suk, Khairudinova and Jandric...
"Natalie and Zalina had struggled a little in the last couple of matches, but they stepped up huge for us today. Tea has been solid for us all year, and today was no different."
On depth of team...
"The exciting part is that in these first four dual matches, we have had different players step up at different times, which shows us that all these girls are capable of playing some great tennis when the match is on the line. We are looking forward to measuring ourselves with the best teams in the nation in New Haven."
Up next...
The Rebels will travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas next Saturday to face Arkansas State before heading up to New Haven, Connecticut for the National Team indoor Feb. 10-13.
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
