College Tennis News - Jones Takes Down No. 10 Player

Julia Jones

STILLWATER, Okla. – Senior Julia Jones, ranked No. 20 in the nation, continued her outstanding year, taking down the No. 10 ranked player in the nation, but the No. 24 ranked Ole Miss women’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the season, 6-1 at No. 16 Oklahoma State Saturday.

Jones won the first set against 10th-ranked and All-American Viktoriya Lushkova 6-3, and then at 5-5 in the second, claimed the last two games for 7-5 and her second top-10 win of the year. With the win, Jones improved to 15-3 overall and 5-0 at No. 1 singles, while winning her fifth in a row.

The Rebels fell behind early as Oklahoma State took the doubles point with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles and a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles from the nation’s fifth-ranked duo.

The Cowgirls maintained momentum by picking up two quick wins on courts four and three in that order to take a 3-0 lead. They clinched the win when former All-ACC transfer Kelsey Laurente defeated 33rd-ranked freshman Arianne Hartono in two tight sets, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 2 singles.

“Oklahoma State played a very good match today,” head coach Mark Beyers said. “Overall we got outworked and they were able to turn some matches around. We have to be able to do the same if we are going to beat a top-ranked team.”

The Rebels continue on the road next weekend at Texas Tech Feb. 6 followed by a match versus Rice in Lubbock on Feb. 7.

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