Oxford, Miss. — Ole Miss women’s tennis opened its Southeastern Conference season with a 5-2 victory over LSU on Sunday afternoon. The win was the first ranked and SEC victory for head coach Grant Roberts, who is in his first season leading the Rebels.
The Rebels jumped to an early 1-0 lead after winning two doubles matches. No. 71 Emily Welker and Andrea Nova defeated Kinaa Graham and Addison Lanton 6-2, while Alice Soulié and Riley Crowder also won their doubles match 6-2. The third doubles match was halted with Kenna Erickson and Ella McDonald leading 5-3 against LSU’s Brooklyn Olson and Ichino Horikawa.
In singles play, Ole Miss extended its lead with victories from Nova, who defeated Graham 6-3, 6-3, and Welker, who beat Ella McDonald 6-4, 7-6. LSU’s Kuhl and Lanton won their matches, but Horikawa’s win at court six clinched the victory for the Rebels. Horikawa staged a comeback after dropping the first set 6-1, winning the second in a marathon tiebreak 11-9, and taking the third 6-1.
Riley Crowder added to the Rebels’ margin with a three-set win over No. 107 Kenna Erickson. The final match saw LSU’s Lanton defeat Soulié in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. Ole Miss will next face No. 1 Georgia on Thursday at the Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia.
