Rebel Netters and LSU to Battle in SEC Showdown

March 24, 1998

OXFORD, Miss. The No. 8 nationally-ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team and the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers will battle Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center in an "SEC Showdown".

Ole Miss comes into the match with a 12-3 overall record, 3-1 in the SEC, while LSU enters with a 14-1overall record, 5-0 in conference play. The Tigers are currently tied for the lead in the SEC with Georgia.

"If we want a shot at the SEC Championships, we've got to beat LSU," Head Coach Billy Chadwick said. "It should be an exciting match between two of the top teams in the nation and we would like to see a good crowd come out and watch."

The Rebels are coming off a hard-fought loss to 19th-ranked Florida in Gainesville. Florida took the doubles point, but the Rebels rallied to even the match at 3-3 before Gator Justin O'Neal defeated Sebastien DeChaunac for the win. It was the first loss for the Rebels in eight matches and their first SEC loss since March 27 of last year.

DeChaunac's loss was only his fourth setback ever in conference play and his first this season. Sophomore Vikrant Chada continued his stellar play, winning his eighth match in a row.

The Tigers are coming off a 7-0 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville. LSU is led by the talented sophomore trio of Michal Chmela, Pedro Escudero and Tom Hand. Chmela, who plays No.1 for LSU, is ranked 12th in the latest national rankings in singles. He also teams with Hand for a No. 20 ranking in doubles.

LSU got the best of the Rebels last year, winning 6-1 in Baton Rouge. The last time the two teams met in Oxford (1996), the Rebels won 4-2.

The LSU match will begin a five match homestand for the Rebels. Ole Miss will host Alabama on Saturday, at 1:00 p.m.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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