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The University of Mississippi Athletics
It's All Coming Together
4/15/2003 | Men's Tennis
By Jon Barnwell
Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant
The Ole Miss men's tennis team is continuing its rise as one of the nation's elite programs in 2003, ranking No. 5 in the latest poll. One of the primary reasons for the Rebels' success is the solid improvement of junior Paul Ciorascu. At 6-foot-4, Ciorascu is considered one of the most improved players in the country.
Ciorascu showed in 2002 that he was ready to step up big for the Rebels, and he has done just that, becoming one of the team's leaders and nation's top players. Ciorascu, presently ranked No. 27 in singles, helped guide the Rebels to a second-consecutive Southeastern Conference Western Division championship, and in doing so, he became only the second player in Ole Miss men's tennis history to go undefeated in singles in league play, posting an 11-0 mark. Former All-American Johan Hede is the other Rebel to accomplish the feat, doing so in 1996. Ciorascu feels his game has come around and really improved this season.
"I have become more solid and mentally stronger," said Ciorascu, whose overall 2003 singles record is 36-10. "Last season, I got a sense of what it takes to play in this league. Finally this year, I put it all together."
Ciorascu was born in Romania, and grew up playing tennis in Sweden. He speaks three languages and finds it can be helpful on the court because many of his teammates are Swedish, and his doubles partner, sophomore Catalin Gard, is Romanian.
"There are certain things at certain times you want to tell somebody, and other people can't understand what we say," said Ciorascu, who has a 12-7 doubles record with Gard in 2003. "You are able to do certain things you wouldn't be able to do if you played with someone who didn't understand what you were saying."
Head coach Billy Chadwick, who is in his 21st season at the helm of the Rebel tennis program, is glad to see Ciorascu's improvement believes he has become a difference maker for the Rebels in 2003
"Paul is arguably the most improved player in the country, and it is very exciting to see his progress," said Chadwick, who has a career record of 329-182. "He is physically the strongest player on the team, and this year he has used his powerful serve and powerful groundstrokes to his full advantage. I can see him assuming a leadership role next year and putting us in a position where we are really strong at the top of the lineup."
The Rebels will be looking to position themselves atop SEC this weekend, as they go after their second tournament title. Ole Miss last won the SEC Tournament crown in 1997. Ole Miss is playing host to the SEC Men's Tennis Championships April 17-20 at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center. The action begins Thursday morning at 8:00 am (CT) and will run throughout the day. Ole Miss, who received a first-round bye as the tournament's No. 3 seed, will begin action on Friday at 2:00 pm (CT). The Rebels will play the winner of Thursday's Auburn-Tennessee match. The tournament semifinals will be held on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 am (CT). The championship match will be at 2:00 pm (CT) on Sunday.
Following the SEC Tournament, the Rebels will await a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss has hosted NCAA Regionals three of the last four years, and with the program's continued success, it's a good bet that the Rebels will host again in 2003.