Men's Tennis Opens Up Play

Jan. 18, 2001

NORCROSS, Ga. - The No. 11 ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team opened up play by winning five of its seven matches in singles and one of their three matches in doubles in the opening day of the SEC Coaches Men's Indoor Championships at the Racquet Club of the South.

In singles action, Ole Miss' Paul Ciorasco defeated John Gray Pou of LSU, 6-4, 6-4. James Shortall won his match against Bryan Fisher of LSU, 6-3, 6-3. Conor Casey was defeated by Kentucky's Rahim Esmail, 6-2, 6-3. Kristofer Stahlberg downed Jerome Le Belicard of Mississippi State, 6-3, 6-4. Alex Hartman defeated Tennessee's Wade Orr, 6-2, 6-1. Martin Selin dropped his match, 6-4, 6-3 to Jesse Smatt of LSU. Patrick Churchi advanced to the second round by defeating Karim Benmansour of Kentucky, 6-2, 6-3.

In doubles action, Ole Miss' team of Hartman and Shortall were defeated by Vanderbilt's Eddie Coates and Bobby Reynolds , 8-4. Casey and Stahlberg defeated Chad Harris and Josh Tarkoff of Vanderbilt, 8-4. Vanderbilt's Brad Hambrick and Lewis Smith defeated Ole Miss's team of Ciorasco and Selin, 8-6.

Second round action will be played on Friday and the tournament will conclude on Sunday.

SINGLES (First Round)

Ciorasco (OM) def. Gray Pou (LSU) 6-4, 6-4, Shortall (OM) def. Bawano (UK) 6-3, 6-3, Esmail (UK)def. Casey (UM) 6-2, 6-3, Stalhberg (UM) def. Lebelicard (MSU) 6-3, 6-4, Hartman (OM) def. Orr (UT) 6-2, 6-1, Smatt (LSU) def. Selin (OM) 6-4, 6-3, Churchi (OM) def. Benmansour 6- 2, 6-3

DOUBLES

Coates-Reynolds (VU) def. Hartman-Shortall (UM) 8-4, Casey-Stahlberg def. Harris-Tarkoff (VU) 8-4, Hambrick-Smith (VU) def. Ciorasco-Selin 8-6.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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