The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
LSU
Men's Tennis Falls To LSU, 6-1
3/29/2000 | Men's Tennis
March 29, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - What was billed as a huge match in the Southeastern Conference tennis race between Ole Miss and LSU, turned out to be all LSU as the ninth-ranked Tigers handed the Rebels a 6-1 loss at the Women's Sports Complex, Wednesday afternoon.
The Rebels (11-4, 3-2) lost the doubles point, as LSU won convincingly at No. 3 doubles and then clinched the point at No. 2 doubles. Ole Miss responded winning the first set on two of the first singles three courts.
Vikrant Chadha took the first set in his match against Ajay Ramaswami at No. 3 singles, but Ramaswami would come back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win, giving LSU a 2-0 lead. At the top spot, freshman Alexander Hartman won his first set against 28th-ranked Michal Chmela 6-4, but the Tiger senior rebounded and won the next two by the same score and the Rebels found themselves in a 3-0 hole.
Junior James Shortall led LSU senior Tom Hand 5-3 in the opening set, but saw the Tiger come back to tie it. It would eventually go to a tiebreaker in which Shortall held four set points and Hand had six before the Tiger finally won the set 17-15. The second set went to a tiebreaker as well, which Hand won 7-5 to clinch the victory for LSU.
"I have to give LSU credit, especially at No. 1 and 2 singles," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "Their seniors and set the tone for the match. Winning the first-set tiebreaker at No. 2 singles turned that match around and then Chmela won his second set at No. 1 singles and LSU regained the momentum. They did a good job in doubles. I believe they have won 23 out of 24 doubles points now."
Rebel Kristofer Stahlberg defeated Daniel Kiernan 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7) for the Rebels only point of the day. He has now seven in a row and eight of his last nine.
The Rebels will look to rebound from this match Friday, as they host Auburn at 2:00 p.m. at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
LSU 6, Ole Miss 1
SINGLES
#1 Michal Chmela (LSU) def. Alexander Hartman (OM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
#2 Tom Hand (LSU) def. James Shortall (OM) 7-6(15), 7-6(5)
#3 Ajay Ramaswami (LSU) def. Vikrant Chadha (OM) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
#4 Kristofer Stahlberg (OM) def. Daniel Kiernan (LSU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
#5 Jesse Smatt (LSU) def. Anders Stenman (OM) 6-4, 6-4
#6 Ed Rubin (LSU) def. Martin Selin (OM) 5-4, suspended
DOUBLES
#1 Shortall-Chadha (OM) vs. Chmela-Kiernan (LSU) 6-4, suspended
#2 Hand-Rubin (LSU) def. Hartman-Stenman (OM) 8-4
#3 Smatt-Ramaswami (LSU) def. Stahlberg-Selin (OM) 8-1
