Rebel Netters End Run At ITA Southeast Regional

LEXINGTON, Ky. Ole Miss men’s tennis duo Jakob Klaeson and Chris Rea ended their run at the ITA Southeast Regional Monday, falling to the No. 1 seeded team in the quarterfinals.

Klaeson and Rea had defeated Middle Tennessee’s team of Andreas Silejstrom and Marco Born earlier in the year to win the Middle Tennessee Fall Invitational, but this time, the Blue Raider pair, ranked No. 3 in the nation, came away with an 8-3 win and went on to capture the championship.

Klaeson and Rea won two tiebreakers in the second and third rounds to reach the quarterfinals. By going 3-1 at the ITA Southeast Regional, the Rebel pair improved to a team-leading 7-1 this fall.

In singles, the Rebels placed one player in the quarterfinals and three in the round of 16.  Chris Rea of Madison won three matches on his way to the quarterfinals.  He beat his first two opponents with little trouble before holding off Georgia’s Josh Varela 7-6(10), 7-5 in the round of 16. 

Rea was scheduled to play Middle Tennessee’ No. 1 player, Andreas Silejstrom, in that round, but the Blue Raider withdrew, so Rea advanced to the final eight where he lost a tough three-setter to the nation’s No. 5 ranked player, Travis Helgeson, of Georgia.  Rea won the first set 6-4, but Helgeson came back to take the second and third sets by the same score. With his tournament, Rea improved to 6-5 on the fall.

Juniors Robbye Poole and Bram ten Berge reached the round of 16.  Poole lost to LSU’s top player, Ken Skupski, who is ranked No. 12 in the nation, in three sets.  Poole won the first set 6-3, but Skupski rallied to take the second 6-3 and the third 6-4.  With his 3-1 record at the regionals, Poole is now 10-3 on the fall.

ten Berge won three matches, before falling to Florida’s Greg Ouellette, ranked No. 26 in the country, 6-2, 6-2 to end his run. 

The Rebels will conclude the fall Nov. 2-5 at the ITA National Indoor and the Bulldog Scramble.

ITA SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Lexington, Ky.

Andreas Silejstrom/Marco Born (MT) def. Jakob Klaeson/Chris Rea (OM0 8-3.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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