Ole Miss' Wellermann Advances At ITA National Indoor

COLUMBUS, Ohio Ole Miss men’s tennis Senior Matthias Wellermann sent the No. 5 seed packing Thursday, to advance to the second round at the ITA National Indoor Championships at the Racquet Club of Columbus.

Wellermann, now 10-1 on the year, defeated fifth-seeded Bryan Koniecko of host The Ohio State in three sets Thursday evening.  The Southeast Regional champion won the first set 6-3, but Koniecko, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation, came back to win the second 6-3.  Wellermann answered, going up 4-1 in the third on his way to claiming the decisive set 6-3.  He will face Oleksandr Nedovyesov of Oklahoma State in the second round Friday.

In other singles action, sixth-seeded Erling Tveit was not as fortunate, losing a tough match to Pepperdine’s Bassam Beidas in three sets, including two tiebreakers.  After taking the first set 6-4, Tveit lost the second 7-6 and the third 7-6(11).  Tveit, who was one of six seeds to fall in the opening round, will compete in consolation play Friday.

The first round of doubles was played Thursday morning, with Ole Miss’ Tveit and Jonas Berg, seeded No. 2, falling victim to the Texas team of Kellen Damico and Luiz Diaz Barrigas, 8-4.  Only one of the top four seeds advanced to the second round in doubles.

This is the second of three national tournaments for singles and doubles during the 2007-08 collegiate tennis season.  The tournament features the nation’s top men’s and women’s tennis players.

ITA NATIONAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS COLUMBUS, Ohio

SINGLES

First Round Matthias Wellermann (OM) def. Bryan Koniecko (OSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Bassam Beidas (PEPP) def. Erling Tveit (OM) 4-6, 7-6, 7-6(11).     

DOUBLES

First Round Kellen Damico/Luiz Diaz Barrigas (UT) def. Tveit/Jonas Berg (OM) 8-4.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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