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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
SEC Indoor Championships
Five Rebel Netters Advance At SEC Indoor Championships
1/16/2003 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 16, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss men's tennis team showed the rest of the SEC why it will contend for the conference championship in 2003, winning five of six singles matches in the first round of the SEC Indoor Championships Thursday at the Racquet Club of the South.
Senior Alex Hartman, a two-time finalist at this tournament, led the No. 8 nationally-ranked Rebels. Hartman, ranked No. 24 in singles, defeated Matt Behrmann of Florida 6-3, 7-6(5) in the first round. He is seeded No. 7 in the field of 64 and will meet Georgia's Stephan Timu in the second round Friday.
Paul Ciorascu, seeded eighth in the tournament, fought off a slow start against Arkansas' Nathan Price to claim a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win. He will face Eleazar Magallon of Florida in the second round Friday. Ciorascu entered the tournament ranked 18th in the nation after a 12-6 fall campaign in which he defeated six nationally-ranked players.
Senior Patrick Chucri won his first round match downing Brandon Nicholson of LSU 6-2, 6-0. He will play one of the top 16 seeds in Auburn's Andrew Colombo, in the second round.
In the afternoon matches, sophomore Catalin Gard, ranked No. 34 in the country, beat Mississippi State's Jerome LeBelicard 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. He will square off against LSU's Peter Richman in the second round.
Rounding out a successful day, junior Claes Lindholm bested Rawl Martin of Tennessee 6-3, 6-4. He will face Eduardo Pacheco of Arkansas in the second round. Sophomore transfer Karim Alayli was the only loss for the Rebels, dropping a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 decision to Trey Johnson of Florida.
Due to play being behind, only one doubles match was played and it involved Ole Miss. The team of Chucri and Alayli dominated Gerald Knorr and Nasir Sherazi of South Carolina 8-2. Hartman and Lindholm and Gard and Ciorascu will play their doubles matches tomorrow.
MEN'S TENNIS SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS - NORCROSS, Ga.
QUALIFYING SINGLES
Josh Tarkoff (VU) def. David Donaldson (OM) 6-0, 6-1
SINGLES
First round - Alex Hartman (OM) def. Matt Behrmann (UF) 6-3, 7-6(5); Paul Ciorascu (OM) def. Nathan Price (ARK) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Patrick Chucri (OM) def. Brandon Nicholson (LSU) 6-2, 6-0; Catalin Gard (OM) def. Jerome LeBelicard (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Claes Lindholm (OM) def. Rawl Martin (UT) 6-3, 6-4; Trey Johnson (UF) def. Karim Alayli (OM) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
