NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 38 Ole Miss women’s tennis team swept Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon to advance to the second round of the SEC Tournament.
The winning moment came when Ole Miss was up 3-0, and Andrea Nova was facing off against Elena Molla. Nova would breeze through Molla, defeating her, 6-3, 6-3, to move Ole Miss on to the Second Round.
The win marked Ole Miss’s (15-10, 6-9 SEC) second sweep against Kentucky (9-16, 1-14 SEC) this season and Grant Roberts’ first postseason win as head coach.
In doubles, Ole Miss jumped in front early as No. 9 Emily Welker and Nova took down No. 55 Asuncion Jadue and Reese Sager, 6-2. Alice Soulié and Riley Crowder followed up with a 6-3 victory against Julia Zhu and Marina Fuduric to snatch the doubles point for the Rebels.
The last doubles court went unfinished, with Brooklyn Olson and Beatrice Stagno holding the lead, 5-4, against Donna Le Roux and Ellie Myers.
In singles, the Rebels didn’t slow down as No. 19 Welker continued to deliver for the Rebels, picking up a win against No. 76 Zoe Hammond, 6-1, 6-1. Crowder then gave Ole Miss a 3-0 lead after she handled Le Roux, 6-4, 6-4, to set up Nova for the match win.
The Rebels will now face No. 14 Vanderbilt, which is the 7th-seed in the tournament. The match will take place on Thursday, April 16, at 12 p.m. CT.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS:
DOUBLES:
1. #9 Andrea Nova/Emily Welker (OM) def. Zoe Hammond/Asuncion Jadue (UK) 6-2
2. Riley Crowder/Alice Soulie (OM) def. Marina Fuduric/Julia Zhu (UK) 6-3
3. Brooklyn Olson/Beatrice Stagno (OM) vs. Donna Le Roux/Ellie Myers (UK) 5-4, unfinished
SINGLES:
1. #19 Emily Welker (OM) def. #76 Zoe Hammond (UK) 6-1, 6-1
2. Alice Soulie (OM) vs. #98 Julia Zhu (UK) 5-7, 2-2, unfinished
3. Andrea Nova (OM) def. Elena Molla (UK) 6-3, 6-3
4. Riley Crowder (OM) def. Donna Le Roux (UK) 6-4, 6-4
5. Beatrice Stagno (OM) vs. Asuncion Jadue (UK) 7-6 (7-3), 3-2, unfinished
6. Ichino Horikawa (OM) vs. Ellie Myers (UK) 7-5, 2-3, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2); Singles (1, 4, 3)