The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Regionals - Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Ends Ole Miss' Run In NCAA Championships
5/16/2004 | Men's Tennis
May 16, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Vanderbilt won a close doubles point against the No. 8 seed, Ole Miss men's tennis team in the second round of the NCAA Championships and then won two of the top three singles matches after the contest was moved indoors due to rain on their way to a 4-1 win Sunday night. The Commodores (15-11) advance to the "Sweet Sixteen" in Tulsa, Okla., next weekend, while Ole Miss, the 2004 SEC Champion, ends the season at 22-5.
This marks the Rebels's first loss in NCAA regional play since 2001. The Rebels are now 8-2 in NCAA play at home. Vanderbilt improves to 7-0 in the Magnolia State since last year.
"We had a team that we felt could go a long way this year in the NCAAs, so obviously we are very disappointed," SEC Coach of the Year Billy Chadwick said. "But, at the same time, I am pleased with the effort. We knew coming in that this was perhaps the strongest second round match-up in the country.
"They (Vanderbilt) had a very mediocre year, considering they returned five of their top six from the NCAA runner-up team a year ago. Any time you have a team like that, when it comes to postseason play, they are very dangerous. They put it all together today. We would like to thank the crowd for their great show of support and sticking with us with the weather delays."
Vanderbilt won a tight doubles point to take the early 1-0 lead in the match. Ole Miss won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles. At No. 1 doubles, Chad Harris and Scott Brown teamed up to beat Paul Ciorascu and Claes Lindholm, 9-7, leaving No. 3 doubles to decide the point. Catalin Gard and Karim Alayli got the early break, but the Commodore due of Matt Lockin and Nathan Sachs broke back. At 5-4, VU broke and went on to win 9-7 to clinch the point.
Following the doubles, it began to rain. After a period of waiting, it was decided that the match would be moved indoors to the Gillom Sports Center.
When play resumed inside, Lindholm evened the match with his straight set win over VU's Matt Lockin at No. 3 singles. The Rebel senior All-SEC performer won the first set 6-3. Lindholm served for the match at 5-3, but Lockin broke back and held serve to even the set at 5. Lindholm held his serve and then broke Lockin for the victory. With the win, Lindholm improved to 20-4 in dual matches.
Vanderbilt regained the lead and increased the margin to 3-1 by winning at the top two spots. Brown came back to beat Ciorascu in three sets. Ciorascu won the first set 7-5. The second would go to a tiebreaker, which Brown won 7-2 to force the deciding set. Brown, an All-SEC honoree, broke at 4-4 and held to give the Commodores a 2-1 advantage. Moments later, Harris finished off SEC Player of the Year, Gard, in three sets to make it 3-1. Harris claimed the first set 7-5, but Gard rallied to win the second 7-6(5). Harris, an All-SEC player, broke early in the third and went on to win 6-3.
"It's different playing indoors, but that's not an excuse," Gard, the No. 4 ranked player in the nation, said. "Everybody gave it their best, it just wasn't enough. Vanderbilt is a very good team. Maybe they will win one or two more matches and keep it going. We had a very good year. We had hoped to win the (NCAA) title, but it was not meant to be."
With the five and six matches early in their first sets, Vanderbilt senior Zach Dailey finished off Rebel sophomore Juan Pablo Di Cesare on court four to clinch the Commodore victory. Di Cesare won the first set 6-4, but Dailey rallied to claim the second and third sets 6-3, 6-2, respectively.
Three members of the Rebel squad will be participating in the NCAA Individual Championships, which begin May 26, following the team competition. Gard is seeded No. 4 in the singles. Lindholm will also participate in the singles, while Gard and Ciorascu are in the 32-team doubles field.
DOUBLES
#1 Harris/Brown (VU) def. Ciorascu/Lindholm (OM) 9-7
#2 Di Cesare/Claesson (OM) def. Smith/Dailey (VU) 8-4
#3 Lockin/Sachs (VU) def. Gard/Karim Alayli (OM) 9-7
SINGLES
#1 Chad Harris (VU) def. Catalin Gard (OM) 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3
#2 Scott Brown (VU) def. Paul Ciorascu (OM) 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4
#3 Claes Lindholm (OM) def. Matt Lockin (VU) 6-3, 7-5
#4 Zach Dailey (VU) def. Juan Pablo Di Cesare (OM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
#5 Fredrik Aarum (OM) vs. Lewis Smith (VU) 2-5, sus.
#6 Eric Claesson (OM) vs. Nathan Sachs (VU) 2-3, sus.
