Sooners Take Down Ole Miss at ITA Kick-Off

Norman, Okla.--The 34th ranked Oklahoma women's tennis (2-0) team defeated No. 35 Ole Miss (1-1), 4-0, on the first day of the ITA Kick-Off in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Seniors Whitney Ritchie and Mia Lancaster took down the 19th ranked doubles team of Caroline Rohde-Moe and Marijua Milutinovic, 6-0 to give the Sooners the edge in the doubles round.

"Mia and Whitney were really clicking today and executed at a level I have not seen too many times," head coach David Mullins. "They got off to a great start and got better with each game."

Sophomore Emma Devine and freshman Morgan Chumney forced a tiebreaker to defeat Erin Stephens and Iris Verboven, 7-6, and clinch the doubles point for the Sooners.

Devine added the second point for the Sooners topping her opponent, Erin Stephens, 6-1, 6-3.

After falling in the first set, 6-3, to Zalina Khairudinova, Chumney came back to win 7-5 in the second set, forcing a third set tiebreak. Chumney won the tiebreaker 10-6 to clinch the match and earn the third point for the Sooners.

"Morgan had a really great comeback and played a phenomenal super breaker to close it out," Mullins said.

The doubles victory wasn't the only upset of the day. Ritchie went on to defeat No. 90 Julia Jones, 6-0, 7-5, securing the victory for the Sooners.

"I could not have been more impressed with this teams performance today," Mullins said. "Everyone gave us a chance for a point on the board, Emma, Whitney and Morgan were the first off but it could have been anyone today."

The team will face No. 12 Alabama Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. in the championship game. The Crimson Tide defeated William and Mary, 4-0, to advance to Sunday's match.