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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
C of Charleston (NCAA Regionals)
Men's Tennis Advances To NCAA Second Round
5/10/2003 | Men's Tennis
May 10, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - It was a busy day Saturday for Rebel seniors Alex Hartman and Patrick Chucri of the Ole Miss men's tennis team. The two graduated from the University of Mississippi in the morning and then led the team to a 4-0 win over the College of Charleston (18-4) first round of the NCAA Championships at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
The Rebels (19-4) will face the Auburn Tigers (16-9), who outlasted Georgia Tech 4-3 earlier in the day, Sunday at Noon in the regional final.
"We came out strong in doubles, but we didn't put them away," Rebel head coach Billy Chadwick said. "When we won the first sets in singles we did a good job of getting ahead in the second sets. One thing you don't want to do is use everything you have in the first round with having to play again tomorrow."
Catalin Gard and Paul Ciorascu took care of business quickly at No. 2 doubles, winning 8-1 over College of Charleston's Eyal Omid and Liran Kling. Hartman, who received his degree in Managerial Finance, and Claes Lindholm, defeated Timo Siebert and Artie Peller 8-6 at No. 1 doubles to clinch the point.
The Rebels wasted little time in taking charge in singles. Hartman led COFC's Siebert 5-0 in the first set, when the Cougar retired due to injury. Chucri dominated Liran Kling 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 singles to make it 3-0 Rebels.
A little while later, Gard finished off Omid 6-2, 6-2 on court two to clinch the victory for Ole Miss.
With the win, the Rebels improved to 6-1 in NCAA competition at home. They will be going for their ninth trip to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" on Sunday. Ole Miss has faced Auburn twice this season and come away victorious both times to extend their streak to 13 consecutive wins over the Tigers. The Rebels rallied to beat the Tigers 4-3 in Auburn during the regular season, and then posted a 4-1 win in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament. Both times, Ole Miss lost the doubles point.
"I am sure they (Auburn) will be motivated. They came at us hard at the SEC Tournament here. We played them as close as you can play at Auburn during the regular season being down 5-0 in a third-set tiebreaker on the last match. The crowd was going nuts, and we reeled off seven straight points to win the match. I even heard one of Auburn's tennis fans at the match say, 'They want to beat Ole Miss more than Alabama.'"
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FIRST ROUND - OXFORD, Miss.
#1 Ole Miss 4
#4 College of Charleston 3
SINGLES
#1 Alex Hartman (OM) def. Timo Siebert (COFC) 5-0, ret.
#2 Catalin Gard (OM) def. Eyal Omid (COFC) 6-2, 6-2
#3 Paul Ciorascu (OM) vs. Thorben Kolk (COFC) 6-1, 5-4, sus.
#4 Claes Lindholm (OM) vs. Artie Peller (COFC) 6-1, 0-4, sus.
#5 Patrick Chucri (OM) def. Liran Kling (COFC) 6-0, 6-1
#6 Karim Alayli (OM) vs. Philip Koller (COFC) 6-1, 3-3, sus.
DOUBLES
#1 Hartman-Lindholm (OM) def. Siebert-Peller (COFC) 8-6
#2 Ciorascu-Gard (OM) def. Omid-Kling (COFC) 8-1
#3 Chucri-Alayli (OM) vs. Kolk-Koller (COFC) 8-7
