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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tenn Chattanooga
Men's Tennis Dominates Tennessee-Chattanooga In Season Opener
1/25/2004 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 25, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 6 nationally-ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team dominated Tennessee-Chattanooga 7-0 Sunday afternoon at the Gillom Sports Center to begin the season. The Rebels now turn their attention to arch-rival Mississippi State, who they will battle in the seventh annual Mississippi Cup Thursday.
Ole Miss got on the board first by sweeping the doubles. Catalin Gard and Paul Ciorascu improved to 4-1 on the season with a 8-5 win over John Hagenstefer and Thomas Knizat at No. 1 doubles.
Ciorascu made it 2-0 Rebels when he downed UTC's Derek Haybittel 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. After a sluggish start in the fall, Ciorascu has won five of his last seven. Gard cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Hagenstefer at the top spot to give Ole Miss a 3-0 lead.
Senior Claes Lindholm dominated UTC's Alex Mabred 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot to clinch the match and improve to 11-4 on the year. He has won six of his last seven.
"This was a great way to start off the season," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "The guys have worked very hard in practice and they were focused. Tennessee-Chattanooga has traditionally had a strong program. This was a great match to prepare us for the always tough Mississippi Cup against Mississippi State.
"We appreciate the fans coming out to watch us. It was a great crowd, and they really got behind us. We have a very exciting team and look forward to giving the fans a lot of great matches this season."
Karim Alayli beat Mario Axente 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles to make it 5-0. Freshman Fredrik Aarum won the first set against Diego Fernandes 6-0 and was leading 4-3 in the second when Fernandes retired, giving the Rebels their sixth point. Juan Pablo Di Cesare made it a clean sweep, when he came back to defeat Knizat in three sets. After a close first set (6-4), Di Cesare dominated the final two sets 6-2, 6-2 to pick up his first win as a Rebel.
The Rebels will head to Jackson Thursday to take on the Bulldogs of Mississippi State at 5 p.m. Mississippi State claimed the first two Mississippi Cups, but the Rebels have won the last four and have won 11 in a row over State. To order tickets to the match, call (601) 987-4454.
#6 Ole Miss 7
Tennessee-Chattanooga 0
DOUBLES
#1 Gard-Ciorascu (OM) def. Hagenstefer-Knizat (UTC) 8-5
#2 Di Cesare-Aarum (OM) def. Mabred-Haybittel (UTC) 8-3
#3 Lindholm-Alayli (OM) def. Bales-Kutschera (UTC) 8-2
SINGLES
#1 Catalin Gard (OM) def. John Hagenstefer (UTC) 6-2, 6-2
#2 Paul Ciorascu (OM) def. Derek Haybittel (UTC) 6-2, 6-2
#3 Claes Lindholm (OM) def. Alex Mabred (UTC) 6-2, 6-3
#4 Juan Pablo Di Cesare (OM) def. Thomas Knizat (UTC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
#5 Fredrik Aarum (OM) def. Diego Fernandes (UTC) 6-0, 4-3, ret.
#6 Karim Alayli (OM) def. Mario Axente (UTC) 6-2, 6-1
