The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Set For SEC Home Opener
3/8/2006 | Men's Tennis
March 8, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. - The defending Southeastern Conference champion Ole Miss men's tennis team will put their 28-match regular season home win streak on the line this weekend as they host a pair of SEC West foes at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center. On Friday, the Rebels will welcome Alabama at 2 p.m., followed by Auburn on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Rebels are ranked No. 8 in this week's Fila National Rankings, which for the first time this season, were compiled using the ITA's computer points per match formula. The previous five weeks were done by a vote of the National Ranking Committee.
Ole Miss comes into the weekend at 9-2 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. They are coming off a 7-0 sweep of South Carolina last Sunday in Columbia. The Rebels defeated the Gamecocks for the second time this year, also posting a 4-1 win in the first round of the National Team Indoor.
"Every weekend in the SEC is important," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "The guys understand that for us to remain in the hunt for the SEC Championship, you have to take care of business at home, because to win on the road in the SEC is a tough assignment. It's supposed to be a nice weekend, so we want to encourage everyone to come out and enjoy some great tennis."
Alabama comes into the weekend at 4-4 overall, 1-1 in the SEC. They are coming off a tough 4-3 loss to Kentucky last Sunday. In that match, the Crimson Tide led 3-0, but could not find the fourth point, as Kentucky rallied for the win. The Crimson Tide are led by junior Joseph Jung, who is ranked No. 58 with a 12-8 overall record, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
The Rebels have won 12 of the previous 14 meetings, including four in a row. They defeated the Crimson Tide 5-2 last year in Tuscaloosa. Alabama's last win (4-3) in the series came back in 2001.
Auburn enters the weekend 7-3 overall and 1-1 in league play. They are coming off a 7-0 win over Vanderbilt last Sunday. The Tigers are led by junior Alex Schweizer who returned to form against Vanderbilt after suffering from a knee injury. He is 2-1 at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, junior Robert Lathouwers is 6-1.
Ole Miss has won 17 straight in the series. The Rebels downed the Tigers 6-1 in the regular season meeting in Auburn last year and then defeated them again in the second round of the NCAA Championships to advance to the "Sweet Sixteen." Auburn's last win (4-3) in the series came in 1993.
The Rebels have owned the West during the last four years. Since the league split into divisions in 2002, the Rebels have posted a 20-0 record against division foes to claim four straight Western Division titles.
