Ole Miss women’s tennis team lost a close match to No. 17 South Carolina, falling 4-3 on Saturday at the Carolina Tennis Center in Columbia. The Rebels, ranked No. 32, began strong by securing the doubles point and taking an early lead.
The contest turned when Ole Miss’s Owen Wilkinson was forced to retire during her singles match against Jana Stojanova, leveling the score at 1-1. South Carolina then won two more singles matches, putting them ahead 3-1.
Ole Miss responded with wins from Brooklyn Olson and freshman Riley Crowder. Olson defeated Sara Borkop in straight sets, while Crowder overcame Jane Dunyon in a third-set tiebreaker to tie the match at 3-3.
The outcome hinged on court four, where Andrea Nova of Ole Miss faced Taylor Goetz. Both players had split the first two sets, each winning 7-5. In the decisive third set, Nova led briefly but Goetz rallied to win the set and secure victory for South Carolina.
Ole Miss (6-3 overall, 1-2 SEC) will return home to play No. 13 Auburn on Thursday, March 5 at the Palmer Salloum Outdoor Tennis Center.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS:
Doubles
1. Helena Buchwald/Lauren Friedman (SC) def. Emily Welker/Andrea Nova (OM) 6-1
2. Alice Soulie/Riley Crowder (OM) def. Jane Dunyon/Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) 6-4
3. Brooklyn Olson/Beatrice Stagno (OM) def. Sara Borkop/Jana Stojanova (SC) 7-5
Singles
1. Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) def. Emily Welker (OM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Helena Buchwald (SC) def. Alice Soulie (OM) 6-0, 7-6 (0-4)
3. Brooklyn Olson (OM) def. Sara Borkop (SC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
4. Taylor Goetz (SC) def. Andrea Nova (OM) 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
5. Riley Crowder (OM) def. Jane Dunyon (SC) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Jana Stojanova (SC) def. Owen Wilkinson (OM) 6-1, retired
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,3,5)
