The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, April 11
Auburn, Ala.
5 PM
Ole Miss
1
at
4
Auburn
Women’s Tennis Drops Match to No. 8 Auburn
4/11/2025 | Women's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. – Ole Miss women's tennis fell short in a sturdy matchup against No. 8 Auburn, 4-1, on Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Doubles began with a bang, after all three courts for the Rebels (13-11, 5-9 SEC) helped to obtain an early lead. Newcomers Emily Welker and Alice Soulié did not waste a moment and came away victorious on court three in a 6-2 final over Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia.
In a strong start to finish, court two was left in favor of the Tigers (21-5, 10-4 SEC) duo, moving all eyes toward the ranked battle on court one. Anaëlle Lelcercq-Ficher and Ludmila Kareisová kept it close against No. 20 but knocked out the upset for the doubles lead and their 20th win as duo this season.
Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová became the first Rebel pair in doubles to accumulate at least 20 wins in the event since Arianne Hartono and Alexa Bortles did so in the 2017-18 season. Also in that season was the last time multiple Rebels earned 20-plus overall doubles wins.
With the one-point advantage, the Rebels pushed into singles with a strong lineup to face. Ultimately, four Rebels fell short on their respective courts in their respective matchups.
Two courts went unfinished, including Lucie Petruzelova on court three with a score of 4-6, 3-5, and Andrea Nova with a score of 4-6, 4-4 on court six
Up next, the Rebels will journey to Gainesville, Fla., to face the Gators for the last regular season match on Sunday, April 13 at noon.
Doubles:
1. No. 31 Ludmila Kareisová and Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (OM) def. No. 20 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar (AUB)
2. No. 50 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Andrea Nova and Brooklyn Olson (OM) 6-2
3. Alice Soulié and Emily Welker (OM) def. Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia (AUB) 6-2
Singles:
1. No. 5 DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Emily Welker (OM) 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 47 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Ludmila Kareisová (OM) 6-3, 6-0
3. Lucie Petruzelova (OM) v. No. 92 Ava Hrastar (AUB) 4-6, 3-5
4. No. 59 Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Alice Soulié (OM) 6-3, 6-3
5. Ava Esposito (AUB) def. Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (OM) 6-2, 7-5
6. Andrea Nova (OM) v. Alice Battesti (AUB) 4-6, 4-4
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
FOLLOW THE REBELS ON SOCIAL
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.
Doubles began with a bang, after all three courts for the Rebels (13-11, 5-9 SEC) helped to obtain an early lead. Newcomers Emily Welker and Alice Soulié did not waste a moment and came away victorious on court three in a 6-2 final over Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia.
In a strong start to finish, court two was left in favor of the Tigers (21-5, 10-4 SEC) duo, moving all eyes toward the ranked battle on court one. Anaëlle Lelcercq-Ficher and Ludmila Kareisová kept it close against No. 20 but knocked out the upset for the doubles lead and their 20th win as duo this season.
Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová became the first Rebel pair in doubles to accumulate at least 20 wins in the event since Arianne Hartono and Alexa Bortles did so in the 2017-18 season. Also in that season was the last time multiple Rebels earned 20-plus overall doubles wins.
With the one-point advantage, the Rebels pushed into singles with a strong lineup to face. Ultimately, four Rebels fell short on their respective courts in their respective matchups.
Two courts went unfinished, including Lucie Petruzelova on court three with a score of 4-6, 3-5, and Andrea Nova with a score of 4-6, 4-4 on court six
Up next, the Rebels will journey to Gainesville, Fla., to face the Gators for the last regular season match on Sunday, April 13 at noon.
Doubles:
1. No. 31 Ludmila Kareisová and Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (OM) def. No. 20 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar (AUB)
2. No. 50 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Andrea Nova and Brooklyn Olson (OM) 6-2
3. Alice Soulié and Emily Welker (OM) def. Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia (AUB) 6-2
Singles:
1. No. 5 DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Emily Welker (OM) 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 47 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Ludmila Kareisová (OM) 6-3, 6-0
3. Lucie Petruzelova (OM) v. No. 92 Ava Hrastar (AUB) 4-6, 3-5
4. No. 59 Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Alice Soulié (OM) 6-3, 6-3
5. Ava Esposito (AUB) def. Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (OM) 6-2, 7-5
6. Andrea Nova (OM) v. Alice Battesti (AUB) 4-6, 4-4
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
FOLLOW THE REBELS ON SOCIAL
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.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
21
DJ Bennett / 0 (5/-) [AUB]
66
#2 Singles Match
12
30
Angella Okutoyi / 0 (47/-) [AUB]
66
#3 Singles Match
123
430
Ava Hrastar / 0 (92/-) [AUB]
65UF
#4 Singles Match
12
33
Merna Refaat / 0 (59/-) [AUB]
66
#5 Singles Match
12
25
Ava Esposito / 0 [AUB]
67
#6 Singles Match
123
440
Alice Battesti / 0 [AUB]
64UF
Order of Finish:
1,2,4,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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