Alabama Women’s Tennis Falls to Ole Miss in a 4-3 Thriller on Friday Afternoon

Friday, March 3

Oxford, Miss.

2 p.m.

Alabama

University of Mississippi

Alabama Women’s Tennis Falls to Ole Miss in a 4-3 Thriller on Friday Afternoon

3/3/2017 5:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Crimson Tide set to take on Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT

OXFORD, Miss.– The Alabama women's tennis team lost a 4-3 thriller to No. 17 ranked Ole Miss on Friday afternoon at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center to officially begin Southeastern Conference play. With the loss, the Crimson Tide falls to a 6-5 overall record, while the Rebels improve to 10-2 on the season.

Senior Erin Routliffe and freshman Maddie Pothoff teamed up to register the first doubles win of the contest, as the pair topped Arianne Hartono and Anna Vrbenska in a 6-1 decision on court one. The Rebels responded with back-to-back victories on courts two and three to clinch the doubles point, taking a 1-0 match lead headed into singles play.

Ole Miss' Zalina Kairudinova defeated sophomore Danielle Spielmann (No. 3) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to extend the Rebels lead to 2-0. Vrbenska went on to overcome junior Smith Hinton (No. 4) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, before sophomore Andie Daniell (No. 2) responded with a win over Natalie Suk, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to trim the Rebels' match lead to 3-1. Freshman Maddie Pothoff (No. 5) registered the Tide's second singles victory, as she topped Ole Miss' No. 115 ranked singles player Alexa Bortles in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, to cut the Rebels' match lead to 3-2. Alabama's No. 116 ranked singles player Routliffe (No. 1) won a match that was decided in three sets against Hartono, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, to tie the match score at 3-3. With the match point on the line, Tea Jandric overcame freshman Juliana Valero (No. 6) in a three set thriller, 6-3, 7-6, 7-5, to clinch the match victory.

The Tide will be back in action on Sunday, March 5, when it travels to Starkville, Miss., to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a match that is set to start at 1 p.m. CT.

No. 34 Alabama 3, No. 17 Ole Miss 4

DOUBLES

1. Maddie Pothoff/Erin Routliffe (Alabama) def. Arianne Hartono/Anna Vrbenska (Ole Miss) 6-1

2. Natalie Suk/Alexa Bortles (Ole Miss) def. Andie Daniell/Danielle Spielmann (Alabama) 7-5

3. Zalina Khairudinova/Tea Jandric (Ole Miss) def. Juliana Valero/Joanna Savva (Alabama) 6-2

Order of finish: 1,3,2

SINGLES

1. No. 116 Erin Routliffe (Alabama) def. No. 35 Arianne Hartono (Ole Miss) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4

2. Andie Daniell (Alabama) def. Natalie Suk (Ole Miss) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

3. Zalina Khairudinova (Ole Miss) def. Danielle Spielmann (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2

4. Anna Vrbenska (Ole Miss) def. Smith Hinton (Alabama) 6-4, 6-2

5. Maddie Pothoff (Alabama) def. No. 115 Alexa Bortles (Ole Miss) 7-6, 7-5

6. Tea Jandric (Ole Miss) def. Juliana Valero (Alabama) 6-3, 7-6, 7-5

Order of finish: 3,4,2,5,1,6

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