The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men's Tennis To Host Memphis Wednesday
3/20/2006 | Men's Tennis
March 20, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 6 nationally ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team will host Memphis Wednesday, in its final non-conference match of the season. First serve at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center will be 2 p.m.
Head Coach Billy Chadwick will be going for his 500th career coaching victory on Wednesday. He currently has 499 wins, including 107 as the head coach of the Lady Rebels from 1979-1986.
The Rebels (12-2) posted their fourth consecutive shutout last Friday, downing two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion, West Florida, 7-0. The team has posted seven shutouts this season and 13 during the last two years.
Rebel sophomore Erling Tveit leads the squad with a 13-1 dual match record. He has won eight in a row and 13 of his last 14 matches. The Rebels have been stellar at the top two positions this season, as junior Eric Claesson comes in with a 10-2 record. Tveit and Claesson also team together for an 8-3 record at No. 1 doubles.
Another reason for the Rebels' 12-2 record is the quality of the lineup from top to bottom. Sophomore Bram ten Berge is 9-4, senior Juan Pablo Di Cesare holds an 11-1 record, sophomore Robbye Poole is 8-2 and sophomore Jakob Klaeson is 10-2.
"The guys are playing well right now," Chadwick said. "When you look at the scores lately, you might think it's been an easy road, but that's not the case. The matches have been tough, but we've done a great job of winning the big points in each one. We have developed a rivalry with Memphis, and we always expect their best when we play. We want to encourage the fans to come out and enjoy some great tennis."
This will be Memphis' second match of the season against a top 10 team, having already faced then No. 10 Washington before spring break. The Tigers (4-9) are led by their No.1 doubles team of James Spence and Sam Withell who come in ranked No. 36 in the nation with a 9-1 record.
Wednesday will be the last opportunity to catch the Rebels in action until April 7 when they return home for Red/Blue Weekend. The Rebels will be on the road this weekend, as they travel to Vanderbilt and Kentucky, followed by matches at LSU and Arkansas next weekend.
Ole Miss has won 30 straight regular season home matches dating back to April 6, 2003.
