FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 41 Ole Miss Women’s Tennis team defeated No. 49 Arkansas, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Billingsley Tennis Center, ending its five-match slide.
The Rebels were out in front 3-0, as Andrea Nova was in a duel against Arkansas’s Alexan Panagiotidou. Nova had won the first set, 6-4, which propelled her to cruise in the second set, 6-2, to clinch the match.
Brooklyn Olson and Beatrice Stagno gave Ole Miss (7-6, 2-5 SEC) the advantage in doubles after defeating Arina Babenko and Panagiotidou, 6-3.
Soon after, the No. 85 duo of Emily Welker and Nova secured the doubles point for the Rebels after defeating No. 22 Caroli Gomez Alonso and Anet Koskel, 6-4.
In singles, the Rebels would continue to roll as Alice Soulie made quick work of Brooke Schafer, 6-1, 6-3. After No. 12 Emily Welker picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win against No. 23 Gomez to set up Nova for the match clinch.
Arkansas then secured a match point by taking a singles court. However, Olson and Horikawa would tack two more match points on for the Rebels after winning their singles matches.
Ole Miss will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, March 19, for its final of a three-match road stretch, facing off against No. 35 Vanderbilt at 5 p.m.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS:
Doubles
1. #85 Andrea Nova/Emily Welker (OM) def. #22 Caroli Gomez Alonso/Anet Koskel (ARK) 6-4
2. Jimena Gomez Alonso/Brooke Schafer (ARK) vs. Riley Crowder/Alice Soulie (OM) 5-4, unfinished
3. Brooklyn Olson/Beatrice Stagno (OM) def. Arina Babenko/Alexan Panagiotidou (ARK) 6-3
Singles
1. #12 Emily Welker (OM) def. #23 Caroli Gomez Alonso (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
2. Alice Soulie (OM) def. Brooke Schafer (ARK) 6-1, 6-3
3. Brooklyn Olson (OM) def. Anet Koskel (ARK) 6-2, 5-7, 11-10
4. Andrea Nova (OM) def. Alexan Panagiotidou (ARK) 6-4, 6-2
5. Arina Babenko (ARK) def. Riley Crowder (OM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Ichino Horikawa (OM) def. Jimena Gomez Alonso (ARK) 4-6, 6-2, 10-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (2, 1, 4, 5, 3, 6)