The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Tennis All-American Mondays: Part 6
11/11/2019 | Women's Tennis
PALOMA COLLANTES; 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Paloma Collantes was arguably the best player in the history of the women's tennis program at Ole Miss. She became the first Rebel All-America in singles in 1991, her freshman year. That year, Collantes reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships before losing to defending national champion Debbie Graham of Stanford 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. The native of Miami, Fla., won the Riviera All-American Championships twice in her four-year career and was a four-time All-SEC selection. Collantes was also named the 1993 Mississippi Female Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Collantes participated in the NCAAs all four years of her career, advancing to the quarterfinals her junior year and the Final Four her senior year. Also during her senior year, Collantes defeated the eventual NCAA Singles Champion, Angela Lettiere(6-4, 6-1) to capture the Rolex South Regional Singles title. In December of 1992, Paloma achieved the distinction of being the first Ole Miss tennis player to ever be ranked No. 1 in the nation in singles by being selected No. 1 in the ITA National Women's Singles Rankings.
In 2000, Collantes became the first Ole Miss women's tennis player to be inducted into The University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame.
AGNES MUZAMEL; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Agnes Muzamel was one of the best to ever lace up the shoes for Ole Miss, becoming just the second Rebel to earn All-America honors all four years. She led the Rebels to their first-ever SEC Tournament Championship, the NCAA quarterfinals, and a final national ranking of No. 6. Muzamel earned All-SEC honors for the fourth year in a row and ended the year ranked No. 8 in the nation in singles. She finished her career with 122 wins, second all-time at Ole Miss.
Muzamel led the Rebels to the quarterfinals at the NCAA Team Championships in 1998. An NCAA singles and doubles participant, Muzamel ended the year ranked 13th in singles and 10th in doubles. She was selected to the All-SEC team. Muzamel was a finalist at the National Clay Court Championships and a quarterfinalist at the All-American Championships. In addition, she captured the Rolex South Regional singles and doubles titles.
Muzamel enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign in 1997, ending the season ranked No. 2 in singles and No. 3 in doubles. She was the only player to be ranked top five in singles and doubles. Muzamel posted a final record of 43-12 and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals in singles and doubles. She earned All-SEC honors in singles and doubles and was named to the Rolex Collegiate All-Star Team.
Muzamel was a huge contributor to the Rebels' success in 1996, while playing at the No. 2 spot. She ended the year ranked 26th in singles and defeated seven nationally-ranked players, including three who were ranked in the top 20 at the time of the match. She reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. Additional honors included being named ITA/Penn South Region Player-to-Watch and selected to the All-SEC second team. Muzamel posted a 24-6 record, including a 12-match winning streak during the season.
In 2009, Muzamel became the third women's tennis player to be inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame.
