The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Ranked Fifth in Fall Rankings
6/21/1999 | Men's Tennis
Dec. 8, 1997
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss men's tennis team, 1997 NCAA Semifinalists, are ranked No. 5 in the fall Rolex Collegiate rankings, released Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
This marks the 19th consecutive release, dating back to the year-end rankings in 1995, in which the Rebels have been ranked in the top five in the nation. The Rebels, 1997 SEC Champions, captured the 1997 SEC Tournament, the Blue/Gray National Classic and finished the year ranked No. 4 in the nation.
The fall rankings are determined by a vote of the ITA's National Tournament Committee. Ole Miss received 569 votes. Stanford remained No. 1 with 600 votes, while UCLA is second with 592 votes.
The SEC, arguably the top conference in the nation, boasts five teams in the top 10 with Georgia (3) Mississippi State (4), Ole Miss (5) LSU (6) and Florida (9). Kentucky, Auburn and Alabama are all among the top 20 teams in the nation.
In the individual rankings, sophomore Martin Sjoqvist moved up three spots to No. 38. He finished the fall with a 6-4 record. Freshman Sebastien Lami ended the fall ranked No. 67. Lami concluded the fall with a 8-4 record that included wins over 29th-ranked Steve Huss (Auburn) and 64th-ranked Alberto Brause (Duke). He reached the quarterfinals of the National Clay Court Championships.
Sebastien DeChaunac, preseason No. 2 in the nation, did not play in any fall collegiate events and therefore, was not eligible for a ranking.
The Rebels will open the spring season Jan. 9-11 at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic in Hidden Valley, Calif.
