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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Earn Preseason Ranking
9/13/2001 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 13, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss men's tennis team has two players ranked among the Top 25 in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings released Thursday.
Alex Hartman, a junior on the team, is the highest ranked player in Mississippi, beginning the year at No. 6 in the nation in singles. He finished 10th in the country last year and became the program's 16th All-American. Hartman advanced to the NCAA Championships and led the Rebels to a final national ranking of No. 10.
Kristofer Stahlberg, one of two seniors on this year's squad, is ranked No. 24 in the nation in singles. He had an outstanding junior season, finishing ranked No. 45 and earning a trip to the NCAA Individual Championships.
"Alex and Kristofer have established themselves as two of the top players in the nation," Rebel head coach Billy Chadwick said. "These rankings reflect the excellent year they had last year, and their efforts were instrumental in our program again ending in the top 10 in the nation."
In doubles, Stahlberg and senior Martin Selin begin the year ranked No. 27. Last season, after the pair had played together their first two years, coach Chadwick split the team up, teaming Stahblerg with All-American James Shortall, and Selin with sophomore Paul Ciorascu.
"Martin and Kristofer played together their freshmen and sophomore years and are regarded as one of the most consistent teams in the conference," Chadwick said.
Ole Miss returns five of the top six from a year ago. The Rebels will open the 2001-02 season Sept. 21-23 at the Southern Intercollegiate in Athens, Ga.