Friday, 03/16/2012

MIAMI - The Ole Miss women's tennis team got their spring break trip to the Sunshine State started off on a solid note, shutting out Florida International 7-0 here Tuesday.  With the win, the Rebels, who moved up to No. 20 in this week's ITA National Rankings, improved to 10-6 overall and will face No. 18 Yale Thursday at 10 a.m. CT.

"This was a good solid road win against a talented FIU team," head coach Mark Beyers said.  "They challenged us in doubles.  Once we got the doubles point, the girls relaxed and we played good solid singles and really dominated.  We are looking forward to playing Yale on Thursday. It should be a great match."

The Rebels secured the doubles point with an 8-4 win at No. 1 by Kristi Boxx and Abby Guthrie.  The 7th-ranked duo is now 8-4 at the top spot.  Gabby Rangel and Erin Stephens improved to x-x at No. 2 doubles with an 8-3 win.

As Coach Beyers said, Ole Miss dominated the singles and never let FIU get in the match.  Boxx was first off the court with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rita Maisak for her 10th win at No. 1.  Freshman Julia Jones downed Karyn Guttormsen 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and then Stephens finished off FIU's Lisa Johnson 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3 to clinch the win.

Freshman Iris Verboven picked up her second win at No. 6 singles, cruising 6-3, 6-1 against Giulietta Boha.  Guthrie topped Christine Seredni 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5, and Caroline Rohde-Moe beat Sarah McLean 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 to finish off the sweep.

Follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissWTennis and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissWTennis.

#20 Ole Miss 7
Florida International 0

Doubles
1. Boxx/Guthrie (OM) def. Maisak/McLean (FIU) 8-4
2. Rangel/Stephens (OM) def. Boha/Guttormsen (FIU) 8-3
3. Serdeni/Johnson (FIU) def. Rohde-Moe/Jones (OM) 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Kristi Boxx (OM) def. Rita Maisak (FIU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Caroline Rohde-Moe (OM) def. Sarah McLean (FIU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Erin Stephens (OM) def. Lisa Johnson (FIU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Julia Jones (OM) def. Karyn Guttormsen (FIU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Abby Guthrie (OM) def. Christine Seredni (OM) 6-1, 6-2
6. Iris Verboven (OM) def. Giulietta Boha (FIU) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2