The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Earn Invite To NCAA Singles And Doubles Championships
5/6/2004 | Men's Tennis
May 6, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Catalin Gard, Claes Lindholm and Paul Ciorascu were among 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams invited to compete in the NCAA Men's Tennis Individual Championships. The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 26-31 in Tulsa, Okla., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 22-25).
"We are proud of these guys for being invited to the NCAA Championships in singles and doubles," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "They helped us win the SEC Championship and put us in the position to host a regional for the fifth time in six years. To be among a select group of great players, is a tribute to their hard work and dedication. We expect them to lead us in the NCAA Team Championships as we compete for a national championship."
Gard, the 2004 SEC Player of the Year, earned a No. 4 seed in the singles field and will be making his second consecutive appearance in the NCAAs. Gard finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the nation with a 22-3 record at No. 1 singles. He went 10-1 in the SEC to nab the league's top honor.
Lindholm, who finished the regular season ranked No. 47 in singles, will also be making his second appearance and first in singles. He qualified in doubles last year. Lindholm posted a 19-4 dual match record and earned All-SEC first team honors.
Gard will team up with Ciorascu, who also earned All-SEC honors, in the doubles championship. The pair posted a 14-5 record at No. 1 doubles and are currently ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Gard, Lindholm and Ciorascu helped lead the Rebels to the SEC Championship in a year where all 12 teams made the NCAA Championships. The Rebels, who finished the regular season ranked No. 5, earned the No. 8 seed in the upcoming NCAA Team Championships and will host a regional May 15-16 at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
