The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Named to All-SEC First Team
6/21/1999 | Men's Tennis
April 22, 1999
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ole Miss men's tennis players James Shortall and Martin Sjoqvist have been named to the 1999 All-SEC first team as announced Wednesday night at the SEC Tournament banquet in Gainesville, Fla.
This is the first time for Shortall to be named to the All-SEC team and the second time for Sjoqvist, who earned second team honors last year. Shortall was one of only two players to receive All-SEC first teams honors in singles and doubles.
Shortall is currently ranked No. 29 in the nation with a 33-14 overall record, 11-9 at No. 1 singles. This is a significant accomplishment as Shortall went from playing No. 6 in the lineup last year to No. 1 for the Rebels this year. He was a finalist at the SEC Indoor Championships.
"James possesses a big game and is arguably the most improved player in the nation," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "Martin is one of the best competitors in the collegiate ranks and his never die attitude leads this team. This combination of power and tenaciousness is what has placed them as the top doubles team in the conference."
Shortall is among a talented first team that boasts nine players ranked in the top 30 in singles including the SEC Player of the Year, Jeff Morrison of Florida, who is rated No. 3 in the nation.
Sjoqvist earned All-SEC honors in doubles with Shortall. Sjoqvist and Shortall are the highest ranked SEC team in doubles at No. 16 in the nation. The SEC Indoor finalist have posted a 14-4 record at No. 1 doubles this year.
In addition to their accomplishments on the court, both Shortall and Sjoqvist were named to the 1999 SEC Academic Honor Roll earlier this week.
The Rebels have had a total of 27 athletes named All-SEC since 1977. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Ole Miss has had a player on the first team. The Rebels have had an All-SEC honoree 10 of the last 11 years.
Ole Miss will face South Carolina in the second round of the SEC Tournament Friday at 7:00 a.m. CST at Scott Linder Tennis Stadium. The Gamecocks downed Mississippi State 4-1 in the first round today. The Rebels have posted two victories over the Gamecocks this year, a 5-2 win at the National Team Indoor and a 4-2 win during the regular season meeting in Oxford.
1999 MEN'S TENNIS AWARDS FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Singles - Francisco Rodriguez, Alabama; Jeff Morrison, Florida; Justin O'Neal, Florida; Chad Carlson, Georgia; Hisham Hemeda, Georgia; Michal Chmela, LSU; James Shortall, Ole Miss; Marco Baron, Mississippi State; Guillaume Legat, South Carolina; Peter Handoyo, Tennessee. Doubles - Jeff Morrison and Nathan Overholser, Florida; Martin Sjoqvist and James Shortall, Ole Miss.
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Singles - Oskar Johansson, Arkansas; Nathan Overholser, Florida; Carlos Drada, Kentucky; Tom Hand, LSU; Mattieu Ballay, Mississippi State; Jerome Jourdon, South Carolina; Vladimir Pavicevic, South Carolina; Mark Parsons, Tennessee. Doubles - Ariel Rivero and Francisco Rodriguez, Alabama; Adam Carey and Mark Parsons, Tennessee.
