The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Troy
Men's Tennis Downs Troy 6-0
2/25/2006 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 25, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 4 nationally-ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team downed Troy 6-0 Saturday afternoon at the Gillom Sports Center to improve to 7-1 on the season. The Rebels were hoping to play the match outside, but inclement weather forced it inside.
The two teams elected to begin the match with singles. Ole Miss' top three players took to the court first, and all three won in straight sets to give the Rebels a commanding 3-0 lead.
Sophomore Erling Tveit showed why he is ranked No. 12 in the nation, cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Troy's Irving Morales at No. 1 singles. Tveit improved to 7-1 in his first season at No. 1 and has won 14 of his last 16 matches dating back to the fall.
Fellow sophomore Bram ten Berge, ranked No. 68, made it 2-0 after finishing off Milos Kustudija, 6-1, 6-4 on court three. He improves to 19-8 on the year and 5-2 in dual matches.
Junior Eric Claesson, ranked No. 35, won his first set against Trojan Marko Despot, 6-1, but found himself staring at a third set, down 5-2 in the second. The two had faced each other in the fall, and that match went three sets with Claesson coming out on top. This time however, Claesson was determined not to let it get to a third set, as he rallied to win five straight games and take the set 7-5 and the match.
In his home debut for the Rebels, freshman Ahmed El Tabakh impressed the crowd as he dominated his opponent, Diego Martinez, 6-1, 6-0 to clinch the victory. He also won his first match (against Portland) in straight sets.
"Troy has a very competitive team," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "I am proud of the guys for maintaining their focus and intensity during the match. We were hoping to play outside, but fortunately we have an indoor facility that allows us to play in front of our fans.
"We must now focus even harder in practice as we get ready to open conference play on the road against two teams (Florida/South Carolina) we just beat a week ago at the National Team Indoor."
Jakob Klaeson and Robbye Poole added wins at Nos. 5 and 4 singles to complete the sweep. Klaeson improved to 5-1 in dual matches, while Poole remains undefeated in dual matches at 5-0.
SINGLES
#1 Erling Tveit (OM) def. Irving Morales (TROY) 6-3, 6-1
#2 Eric Claesson (OM) def. Marko Despot (TROY) 6-1, 7-5
#3 Bram ten Berge (OM) def. Milos Kustudija (TROY) 6-1, 6-4
#4 Robbye Poole (OM) def. Marko Kustudija (TROY) 6-3, 4-6, 10-1
#5 Jakob Klaeson (OM) def. Pascal Duttlinger (TROY) 6-1, 6-3
#6 Ahmed El Tabakh (OM) def. Diego Martinez (TROY) 6-1, 6-0
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