Lady netters close out season with wins

Smith Wyckoff

DM Staff writer

On Friday, the No. 9 nationally ranked Lady Rebel tennis team traveled to the Plains to do battle with the Auburn Tigers. After scoring a decisive win over Auburn 7-2, the Lady Rebs returned to Oxford to shutout Alabama on Sunday, 9-0. After these two decisive victories, the Lady Rebels have increased their record to 18-4, 9-2 in the SEC.

At Auburn, the Lady Rebs won four of the singles matches and all three of the doubles.

Ivona Mihailova made short work of Carolina Maurer at No. 3 singles by winning 6-4, 6-1. Courtenay Chapman was quick to follow, defeating Summa Edwards 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Mariana Eberle proved to be too much for Judith Boban at No. 5 singles, as she won 6-1, 6-1.

Alesya Ignatieva continued her winning streak as she defeated Caroline Thompson at No. 6 singles 7-6, 6-1. She now has won seven in a row.

An upset of sorts occurred when Agnes Muzamel fell to Andrea Piski at No. 1 singles 6-4, 6-2.

As Celeste Frey and Simone Jardin battled in an incredibly long match at No. 2 singles, Ivona and Irena Mihailova earned the clincher point for the Rebels at No. 3 doubles by defeating Boban and Thompson 8-1.

After over three hours and 15 minutes, Jardin was able to score the win over Frey 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Muzamel and Chapman then defeated Edwards and Maurer at No. 2 doubles 8-2.

At No. 1 doubles, the pairing of Eberle and Ignatieva was able to defeat the Auburn team of Piski and Heidii Stewart 8-6.

"If I'm honest, this is the one match we've played this year where I thought we were tired, but there really wasn't a way we could avoid it" said head coach Jerry Montgomery.

"In competitive athletics, one measure of how good you are is being able to win when you are not 100 percent."

Sunday's match, which was the last home match for the senior players, turned out to be an exhibition of the ladies' skills as they defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 9-0.

"Our team was on fire today with Agnes and Courtenay leading the way," Montgomery said.

"We played with great intensity and controlled power. This match will stick in my mind for a long time to come."

After her marathon match at Auburn, Frey wasted no time in defeating Dominique Glinzer at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-2. Senior Agnes Muzamel played her last match at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center in style by destroying Jill Breslin 6-0, 6-0.

Courtenay Chapman also finished in style by defeating Selia Mathew 6-1, 6-0.

"It's great that Agnes and I ended on a win," Chapman said.

"We really appreciate all the things our coaches have done for us. It was such a great feeling to get such a strong win for our last home match."

Ivona Mihailova earned the fourth point for the Lady Rebs by defeating Weyli Chang at No. 2 singles. At No. 6 singles, Irena Mihailova clinched the victory for the Rebels by defeating Jenny Ketchum 6-3, 6-3.

The sweep of the singles was completed as Mariana Eberle defeated Kathleen Mele 6-1, 7-5.

The doubles were as brutal as the singles. Ole Miss breezed through the competition. At No. 1, Frey and Eberle defeated Breslin and Glinzer 8-1.

Ivona and Irena had no trouble with Chang and Mele at No. 3 doubles, as they won 8-1. Chapman and Muzamel then finished their last home match by defeating Becca Baum and Ketchum 8-2.

"I have thought about this match for a long time," Montgomery said, "not so much because we were playing Alabama, but because it would be Agnes and Courtenay's last home match.

"In your coaching career, it's not often that you have the privilege to work with athletes and people of their caliber. Our university owes them a great debt of gratitude, and I hope that the faculty, staff and students will take the time to do that."

The Lady Rebels will now prepare to travel to Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday for the SEC Tournament.