The University of Mississippi Athletics
Senior All-Americans To Lead Young Team In 2009
2/21/2009 | Men's Tennis
Coming off an outstanding season in which Ole Miss won the SEC Tournament Championship, their seventh consecutive SEC West title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, head coach Billy Chadwick has assembled yet another team, picked to win the SEC by the league coaches.
Ole Miss returns four players from last year's SEC Championship team, led by senior All-Americans Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge and All-SEC performer Kalle Norberg.
Berg and ten Berge entered the spring ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles. The duo captured the ITA All-American Championships in the fall.
The pair made a lot of noise with their racquets in 2008. In addition to helping Ole Miss to its seventh consecutive SEC West title, the SEC Tournament Championship, and the NCAA Elite Eight the two were part of a magical run in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Jonas Berg teamed up with three-time All-American Erling Tveit to finish runner-up in the NCAA Doubles, while semifinalists ten Berge and fellow All-American Matthias Wellermann just missed out on making it an Ole Miss final, losing a hard-fought match (that included a match point) to the eventual national champions.
Both have accepted the challenge and will captain a young team in 2009.
"As a senior, I need to step it up and lead the team along with Bram," Berg said. "Kalle will also help as a junior. We have a young team, but I think we can be very good. It's hard for freshmen coming in to play well right away, because of the atmosphere. It's very different from playing tournaments in juniors. It might be hard in the beginning, but when we get past that, we will again be one of the top teams in the SEC."
"Jonas and Kalle know what it is to win and be successful," ten Berge added. "They know what it means to be playing for a team and do well in tournaments. It's a matter of getting the young guys adjusted to the whole thing. I think talent-wise we're right up there, and Jonas and I can play a huge role in their adjustment to the college experience...look for the Rebels to have another highly successful season."
Berg has been a mainstay in the bottom half of the lineup his first two years, winning almost every time he took the court. The 2008 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player came into the spring with an impressive 39-3 dual match record, including 19-1 in the SEC. This year Berg, who entered the spring ranked No. 28 in singles, will step up to the top half of the lineup.
"Jonas is one of the top players in the nation," Chadwick said. "He is always at his best in both singles and doubles and is a proven winner. We will be looking to him to lead this young team."
Bram ten Berge, who possesses a tremendous work ethic on and off the court, is a proven veteran who has been to the NCAA Final Four as well as helping the Rebels win SEC Championships. An outstanding student-athlete, ten Berge was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa national honor society last year and is a four-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.
"Bram knows what it takes to be successful in the SEC and the NCAA," Chadwick said. "He has been instrumental in SEC Championships and an NCAA Final Four. He will also be called upon to provided leadership along with senior Jonas Berg."
An exciting player to watch, Kalle Norberg has become one of the most consistent players in the SEC and in the history of Ole Miss. The two-time All-SEC honoree has played a major role in the team's success the last two years. After going 12-2 in the fall and winning the USTA Invitational, Norberg entered the spring ranked No. 53 in the nation. As an experienced player, Norberg will help provide leadership to the younger players.
"When Kalle steps on the court you know he will give 100 percent," Chadwick said. "He has been a key component in our success and will be heavily counted on this spring."
Also returning from 2008 is sophomore Tucker Vorster who was a big part of the Rebels' success in doubles. He went 10-2 at No. 3 doubles with Jakob Klaeson. He is recovering from a knee injury, and when healthy, will help the Rebels.
"Tucker is an outstanding doubles player," Chadwick said. "He had knee surgery this past summer and missed competing in the fall. He is regaining his form and will definitely play a major role in our success this spring."
The Rebels graduated four seniors from last year's team, and all four played a major role in the team's success during the last four years. Gone, are three-time All-American Erling Tveit, who amassed more than 100 victories during his illustrious career, and All-Americans Robbye Poole and Matthias Wellermann. Jakob Klaeson is serving as a student assistant coach this season.
Replacing three All-Americans in one year is not an easy task, but Chadwick has added four extremely talented players who will be a big part of the program for years to come.
Leading the list of newcomers is Mississippi native Devin Britton, who joined the team in January. One of the top junior players in the world, Britton reached the U.S. Open Junior Finals this past summer. He is expected to make an immediate impact in singles and doubles for the Rebels.
"We are extremely excited to have Devin join the program," Chadwick said. "He trained at the elite Nick Bollettieri Academy, and they have done an outstanding job of helping him develop into one of the top juniors in the world. With his results of reaching the finals of the U.S. Open Juniors and winning the prestigious Orange Bowl in doubles, he has established himself as not only one of the top players ever from the state of Mississippi but also in the nation."
Fans coming out to Ole Miss men's tennis matches this season will be seeing double, with the addition of German twins Chris and Marcel Thiemann. They are regarded as two of the top prospects entering collegiate tennis. Marcel reached a top ranking of No. 3 in Germany in 18s, and Chris achieved a ranking of No. 7 in Germany in 18s.
"The twins are two of the top players from Germany," Chadwick said. "They have excelled in both singles and doubles, and they have the experience and talent to contribute to the team immediately. In addition, they are outstanding students and will be great representatives of the University"
The Rebels have added another one of Sweden's top players in Otto Sauer. Sauer was ranked No. 1 in Sweden in 18s.
"Otto is an extremely talented freshman," Chadwick said. "He has extensive experience playing junior tennis in Europe against some of the best competition in the world. He will help in both singles and doubles."
This year's schedule is one of the toughest, especially for a young team.
The Rebels open the season Jan. 29 against Troy before welcoming Rice, Wake Forest and Kentucky to Oxford for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The winner of both matches will advance to the finals of the National Team Indoor in Chicago, Feb. 13-16.
Following the kick-off weekend, the Rebels will head to Jackson, Miss., for the annual battle against Mississippi State in the River Hills Mississippi Cup Feb. 5.
In their first road test of the season, the Rebels will travel to preseason No. 1 Ohio State for a Feb. 11 contest, prior to the National Team Indoor Finals. The Rebels will conclude the month of February at TCU (preseason No. 33) and Baylor (preseason No. 7).
After a month away from home, Ole Miss returns home for a March 3 match against Memphis.
Conference season opens in a big way for the Rebels as they welcome two-time defending NCAA Champion Georgia on March 6 followed by Tennessee (preseason No. 8) on March 8.
Following road trips to Alabama (March 13), Auburn (March 15), West Florida (March 19) and Florida (March 27), the Rebels close out the home schedule with South Carolina (March 29), Kentucky (April 3) and Vanderbilt (April 5).
Ole Miss will conclude the regular season on the road at LSU (April 10), Arkansas (April 12) and Mississippi State (April 18).
The Rebels will defend their SEC Tournament title April 23-26 in Auburn, Ala. The NCAA Final 16 returns to College Station, Texas where the Rebels last advanced to the Final Four in 2005.
With leadership at the top and a talented quartet of newcomers, don't bet against the Rebels in 2009.
