Siljestrom Notches Win Over Ranked Player in Lady Raider Loss

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Defending Sun Belt Player of the Week Ann-Kristin Siljestrom picked up her first win over a ranked player in singles in Middle Tennessee's (3-3) 6-1 loss to No. 58 Ole Miss (5-2) Sunday at the Murfreesboro Racquet Club.

Siljestrom knocked off Mississippi's Nika Koukhartchouk, who is ranked No. 117, 7-6, 1-6 (10-6) at No. 4 singles in a super tiebreaker. Since joining the team in January, the freshman has won all six of her singles matches and has only lost one set in those six contests.

"Ann-Kristin just keeps rolling," said Head Coach Neil Stapp. "I am really proud at how she has stepped up her game as I have moved her up in the line-up."

Overall, the Lady Raiders had a tough day against Ole Miss. The Rebels opened the match by winning the doubles point, but didn't earn the sweep. Middle Tennessee picked up a win at No. 3 doubles as Jacqui Williams and Claudia Szabo defeated Carlin Cochran and Koukhartchouk 8-4.

"We really started out sluggish in the doubles," Stapp said. "That kind of transferred over to the singles matches. Ole Miss really brought their game today, and unfortunately we were a little down."

The Lady Raiders were also fighting through the flu bug that was going around. Senior Ana Maria Cibils was fighting the flu, making it through the doubles, but having to withdraw from singles. She was facing Virginia Tomatis at No. 2 singles, falling in the first set 6-3, before she had to withdraw.

Middle Tennessee will face its second ranked opponent in three days when the Lady Raiders travel to Nashville to take on No. 6 Vanderbilt. Match-time is set for 4 p.m. at the Currey Tennis Center.

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