Ole Miss women’s tennis is set to play its first away matches in conference play, taking on top-ranked Georgia and No. 17 South Carolina. The Rebels, currently ranked No. 32 with a 6-1 record overall and 1-0 in the SEC, recently secured a significant win over LSU.
The team will begin its road trip facing Georgia at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens on Thursday, February 26 at 4 p.m. Georgia holds the No. 1 spot in the ITA rankings this spring and recently won both the National Championship and the ITA Team Indoor Championships, defeating teams such as Virginia, LSU, Auburn, and Ohio State along the way. Their only loss came against North Carolina.
Georgia’s roster includes six players ranked nationally in singles—Aysegul Mert (No. 7), Emily Welker (No. 11), Anastasiia Gureva (No. 30), Deniz Dilek (No. 41), Anastasiia Lopata (No. 48), Sofia Rojas (No. 52), Kaitlyn Carnicella (No. 63), and Patricija Paukstyte (No. 91). In doubles, they feature four ranked pairs: Deniz Dilek/Aysegul Mert (No.8), Emma Dong/Deniz Dilek (No.35), Anastasiia Gureva/Aysegul Mert (No.46), and Anastasiia Lopata/Patricija Paukstyte (No.77).
After playing Georgia, Ole Miss will travel to Columbia for a match against South Carolina at the Carolina Tennis Center on Saturday at 1 p.m., where they will face a Gamecocks team with wins over Miami, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Charlotte this season.
South Carolina has one player ranked nationally in singles—Kaitlyn Carnicella at No.63—and three doubles pairings among the top rankings: Lauren Friedman/Helena Buchwald (No.18), Kaitlyn Carnicella/Bella Bergqvist Larsson (No.19), Lauren Friedman/Sara Borkop (No.73).
The Rebels’ current roster features several notable athletes:
– Riley Crowder joined as Alabama’s top recruit for the class of 2025.
– Ichino Horikawa from Japan played a key role in Ole Miss’ upset of LSU.
– Andrea Nova is now in her third year with Ole Miss.
– Brooklyn Olson previously went undefeated in dual singles matches during her freshman year.
– Alice Soulié led last season’s team with nine conference victories.
– Graduate student Emily Welker reached No.6 in ITA singles last fall and made it to NCAA Singles semifinals last year.
– Owen Wilkinson comes into her freshman season as Mississippi’s top recruit after winning two state titles.
– Beatrice Stagno from Italy brings international experience with an ITF ranking of No.124.
Following graduation of four seniors last year, five returning players remain for this campaign including Nova who leads among returners with thirteen wins last spring.
Three freshmen have joined Ole Miss this season: Crowder from Alabama; Wilkinson from Mississippi; and Horikawa from Japan.
For updates about Ole Miss Women’s Tennis, fans can follow @OleMissWTennis on Twitter or Instagram or Coach Roberts via @gdrob91 on Twitter.
