The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netter Erling Tveit Named SEC Player Of The Week
4/18/2006 | Men's Tennis
April 18, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For his thrilling match-clinching victory against Mississippi State last Saturday, Ole Miss men's tennis sophomore Erling Tveit has been named the SEC Player of the Week the league office announced Tuesday.
Tveit rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the third set against Mississippi State's Pierre Mouillon to clinch the victory and the Rebels' fifth consecutive outright SEC Western Division Championship. He faced match points, including being down 5-6 in the third set tiebreaker. Tveit won four straight points to secure the victory. He also teamed with Eric Claesson to win 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.
The Rebels have won 17 straight against Mississippi State, and Tveit clinched both wins against them this year.
"The SEC is the strongest tennis conference in the nation, and it is a tremendous honor for Erling to be named the player of the week," head coach Billy Chadwick said. His hard-fought comeback victory was the deciding factor in our winning the SEC West Championship for the fifth year in a row."
A native of Oslo, Norway, Tveit heads into the upcoming SEC Tournament ranked No. 22 in the nation with a 16-3 record at No. 1 singles. He finished 8-3 at No. 1 singles and 9-2 at No.1 doubles in the SEC.
The Rebels are the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins Thursday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. They will face the winner of the No. 6 seeded Arkansas/No. 11 seeded Vanderbilt match Friday at 10 a.m. It marks the 13th consecutive year for the Rebels to finish among the top third in the SEC.
