.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
USTA Challenger Qualifying
Rebel Netter Advances In Smith Barney Challenger Qualifying
9/20/2004 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 20, 2004
COVINGTON, La. - Catalin Gard of the Ole Miss men's tennis team advanced to the final round of qualifying at the Smith Barney Challenger Sunday and will face Shannon Nettle of Australia today for a spot in the main draw.
Gard, preseason No. 1 in the nation in the collegiate tennis rankings, had a bye in the first round on Saturday. On Sunday, Gard downed Alabama's No. 1 player in 2004, Stephen Mitchell, 6-4, 6-2.
The Rebels also had two other players on this year's team competing, senior Karim Alayli and freshman Bram ten Berge. Alayli lost to Mitchell in the first round, 7-5, 6-4. Berge, who reached the finals of the First Guaranty Wildcard Tournament last weekend, defeated LSU's former No. 1 player, Daniel Kiernan, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round. He lost in the second round to Ti Chen of Tapai.
Two former Rebels are also competing in the tournament. Former collegiate No. 1 Sebastien DeChaunac is in the main draw, while former four-time All-SEC player Alex Hartman reached the final round of qualifying.
