Millie Begovic

The University of Alabama women’s tennis lost 4-0 to the 34th ranked Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Columbia, South Carolina. The 40th ranked Crimson Tide falls to 12-10 on the season and 3-9 in the SEC.

Eighth seeded Ole Miss jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning two of the three doubles matches. At number one doubles, the Rebels’ Aleysa Ignatieva and Audra Adams won 8-5 over the Crimson Tide’s 33rd ranked duo of Millie Begovic and Weyli Chang. Alabama’s Jenny Ketchum and Selia Mathew defeated Mississippi’s Karem Harboe and Florencia Basile 8-3 at number two doubles. Ole Miss won 8-5 at number three doubles as Mira Radu and Camilla Gould defeated Bama’s Stefanie Leung and Becca Baum.

The Rebels then went on to claim three singles matches for the 4-0 victory. At number one singles, Mississippi’s 13th ranked Radu won 6-3, 6-2 over Alabama’s Mathew. Ole Miss’ 60th ranked Ignatieva defeated Bama’s Ketchum 6-3, 6-2 at number two singles. The Crimson Tide’s Chang lost 6-4, 6-4 to the Rebels’ Basile at number four singles.

“I thought Mississippi played a good match,” UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. “I thought that we played hard, we just didn’t have enough. The doubles point was pivotal.”

“The goal now is to prepare for the NCAA Tournament. Hopefully, we will get a bid.”

Alabama now waits to see if they receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament field will be announced May 2nd at 7 p.m. EDT.

No. 34 Ole Miss- 4              No. 40 Alabama- 0 

Doubles

1. Ignatieva/Adams(UM) def. No. 33 Begovic/Chang(UA) 8-5
2. Ketchum/Mathew(UA) def. Harboe/Basile(UM) 8-3
3. Radu/Gould(UM) def. Baum/Leung(UA) 8-5

Singles

1. No. 13 Mira Radu(UM) def. Selia Mathew(UA) 6-3, 6-2
2. No. 60 Aleysa Ignatieva(UM) def. Jenny Ketchum(UA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Millie Begovic(UA) vs. Karem Harboe(UM) DNF
4. Florencia Basile(UM) def. Weyli Chang(UA) 6-4, 6-4
5. Becca Baum(UA) vs. Sabrina Peppl(UM) DNF
6. Stefanie Leung(UA) vs. Audra Adams(UM) DNF