The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women’s Tennis Adds 3-Time All-American to Staff
8/20/2018 | Women's Tennis
Blair Shankle to Join Program as Volunteer Assistant Coach
OXFORD, Miss. –It's always a great thing when you can replace an All-American on your coaching staff with another All-American. OIe Miss women's tennis head coach Mark Beyers did that with the addition of Baylor alum Blair Shankle to the program as the new volunteer assistant coach.
Shankle replaces Rebel All-American Julia Jones, who finished up her masters in accountancy in May and will begin putting her degree to use in September.
"Julia did an amazing job for us, but she finished her masters in accounting and is going to move on to the real world. I knew Blair from her playing days in college and obviously looking at her bio, you can see that she did it all as a player. She's a hard worker and somebody who got the most out of her game.
"When we talked after our match last year, and she mentioned that she would love to coach in college and asked if I would be interested in having her coach at Ole Miss, it was a no brainer. It's a win-win for our team. This was a great opportunity to make our team better."
Shankle served as a student assistant coach this past year at Baylor where she enjoyed a decorated career on and off the court.
A three-time All-American, Shankle ended her career ranked third in doubles wins (99), tied for fourth in singles winning percentage (.826), sixth in singles wins (109) and seventh in doubles winning percentage (.733) at Baylor. She achieved the highest ranking for a singles player in program history, checking in at No. 4 in the Oracle/ITA Rankings and became the first player in program history to earn All-America accolades on the court and in the classroom.
Shankle's Accolades…
· 2017 All-Big 12 First Team Singles & Doubles
· 2017 Singles All-American
· 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team
· 2017 ITA Most Improved Senior (national and regional award winner)
· 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team
· 2017 Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 7, March 21, April 18 & April 25)
· 2016 All-Big 12 First Team Singles & Doubles
· 2016 Big 12 Player of the Week (April 7)
· 2015 All-Big 12 Singles & Doubles
· 2015 Big 12 Player of the Week (March 17 & April 7)
· 2014, 2015 ITA All-American Doubles
· 2016 & 2017 Big 12 Scholar-Athletes of the Year
· 2016 ITA Texas Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship
· 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 ITA Scholar-Athlete
· 2015, 2016 & 2017 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
· Eight-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection
"Mark approached me last year when Ole Miss played a dual match at Baylor and said he would have an opportunity this year, and it peaked my interest," Shankle said. "I am super excited to join the Rebel family and start working with the players and learn a lot from Mark."
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.
Shankle replaces Rebel All-American Julia Jones, who finished up her masters in accountancy in May and will begin putting her degree to use in September.
"Julia did an amazing job for us, but she finished her masters in accounting and is going to move on to the real world. I knew Blair from her playing days in college and obviously looking at her bio, you can see that she did it all as a player. She's a hard worker and somebody who got the most out of her game.
"When we talked after our match last year, and she mentioned that she would love to coach in college and asked if I would be interested in having her coach at Ole Miss, it was a no brainer. It's a win-win for our team. This was a great opportunity to make our team better."
Shankle served as a student assistant coach this past year at Baylor where she enjoyed a decorated career on and off the court.
A three-time All-American, Shankle ended her career ranked third in doubles wins (99), tied for fourth in singles winning percentage (.826), sixth in singles wins (109) and seventh in doubles winning percentage (.733) at Baylor. She achieved the highest ranking for a singles player in program history, checking in at No. 4 in the Oracle/ITA Rankings and became the first player in program history to earn All-America accolades on the court and in the classroom.
Shankle's Accolades…
· 2017 All-Big 12 First Team Singles & Doubles
· 2017 Singles All-American
· 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team
· 2017 ITA Most Improved Senior (national and regional award winner)
· 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team
· 2017 Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 7, March 21, April 18 & April 25)
· 2016 All-Big 12 First Team Singles & Doubles
· 2016 Big 12 Player of the Week (April 7)
· 2015 All-Big 12 Singles & Doubles
· 2015 Big 12 Player of the Week (March 17 & April 7)
· 2014, 2015 ITA All-American Doubles
· 2016 & 2017 Big 12 Scholar-Athletes of the Year
· 2016 ITA Texas Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship
· 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 ITA Scholar-Athlete
· 2015, 2016 & 2017 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
· Eight-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection
"Mark approached me last year when Ole Miss played a dual match at Baylor and said he would have an opportunity this year, and it peaked my interest," Shankle said. "I am super excited to join the Rebel family and start working with the players and learn a lot from Mark."
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.
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