The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netter Catalin Gard Named SEC Player Of The Week
2/22/2005 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss men's tennis senior Catalin Gard was named the SEC Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 14-20, the league office announced Tuesday. Gard, who has been ranked No. 1 in the nation all year, earned the honor for his performance in leading the Rebels to the semifinals at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor in Chicago.
The Rebels were the only SEC team to advance to the semifinals and did so for the second consecutive year and the fourth time overall. Gard went 4-2 in singles and doubles last week in leading the Rebels to wins over Northwestern (Feb. 15) and then No. 12 Southern Cal and No. 3 Florida at the National Team Indoor.
In the match against Florida, Gard, the 2004 SEC Player of the Year, downed Hamid Mirzadeh in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) to avenge his only conference loss last year and clinch the win that put the Rebels in the semifinals. With the win over Mirzadeh, Gard notched his 90th career victory. He currently owns a 14-3 overall record, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
"The match against Mirzadeh shows Cat's improvement over the last year," head coach Billy Chadwick said. Cat's outstanding performance in singles and doubles and team leadership was instrumental in our defeating Northwestern, Southern Cal and Florida."
Gard becomes the fourth Rebel to earn the SEC's weekly award since the league initiated it for the sport of tennis in 2000. Former All-American James Shortall earned this distinction in 2000, two-time All-SEC honoree Kristofer Stahlberg received the nod in 2001, and former All-American Alex Hartman was tabbed for the honor in 2003.
The Rebels (6-1) will host Middle Tennessee Saturday at Noon at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
