Rebels Top State 4-2 In Mississippi Cup

JACKSON, Miss. -- Freshman Otto Sauer of the Ole Miss men’s tennis team came up big for the second time in three matches, clinching a 4-2 win for the ninth-ranked Rebels in the River Hills Mississippi Cup here Thursday night at the River Hills Club.  With the win, Ole Miss has now won 22 in a row in the overall series and 10 straight Mississippi Cups.

This marked the first time since 2002 for the Bulldogs to score a point in the Mississippi Cup, as the Rebels had posted six straight shutouts coming in. 

Sauer, facing Mississippi State’s Chris Doerr, won a huge first set tiebreaker 7-6(4).  He served for the match at 5-3 in the second, but Doerr hit several big returns to break.  Sauer answered, breaking back to clinch the Rebel victory.  Afterwards, he talked about his first taste of the rivalry and clinching his second match.

“This was unbelievable,” Sauer said.  “It was so nice to win a match without playing your best.  It’s hard to serve for the match.  That’s the toughest thing to do.  He (Doerr) played good.  He got some returns in on my serve.  I was nervous I played good in the last game.  I knew it was a big deal, but I haven’t been here that long.”

“He’s a tough out,” said Chadwick on Sauer.  “He’s beginning to understand what it’s all about.  He did a fabulous job of closing it out.  He served well at 5-3 but Doerr played a great game.  It was great for Otto to close it out with a break.” 

Ole Miss got things started by taking the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 3.   The Rebels improved to 118-7 when they win the doubles point.

The senior duo of Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge, ranked No. 1 in the country, downed MSU’s Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump 8-2 at No. 1 and then the Bulldogs won 8-3 at No. 2.  Rebel freshman Chris Thiemann and sophomore Tucker Vorster, playing his first match of the year, teamed up at No.3 against MSU’s Louis Cant and Artem Ilyushin.  Vorster got broke to start the match, but the Reb duo broke back and served for the match at 7-5.  Cant and Ilyushin broke Vorster again, but they couldn't serve it out. Down 30-0, Vorster and Thiemann won four straight points to clinch the doubles for the Rebels.

Jonas Berg downed State newcomer Daniel Sanchez 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles to make it 2-0, and then Kalle Norberg finished off Louis Cant 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 singles for the 3-0 lead.

State got on the board when senior Ryan Farlow won a third set tiebreaker against Ole Miss freshman Devin Britton at No. 1 singles.  The featured match between both Jackson natives lived up to its billing.  Farlow won the first set 6-1 after taking a 5-0 lead, but then Britton came back strong in the second to claim it 6-3.  He served for the match at 5-4 in the third, but Farlow came up with some great shots and broke with the set eventually going to a tiebreaker. Farlow got up 6-3, before Britton rallied to make it 6-5.  On match point, Britton missed a shot just wide as  the crowd gave both players a standing ovation.

The Bulldogs pulled to within 3-2 when Antonio Lastre beat Rebel freshman Chris Thiemann 7-5, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. 

When the match was stopped, ten Berge was up 4-3 in the third set at No. 4 singles against State’s Artem Ilyushin. 

“We played a very good match,” head coach Billy Chadwick said.  “We had to work hard at every position.  They’re really good.  They are about the same from one to six.  This was a huge test for us, and it will help us in the long run.”

The Rebels next match will be Feb. 11 at No. 1 Ohio State before opening play in the ITA National Team Indoor Finals in Chicago Feb. 13.

#9 OLE MISS  4

Mississippi State 2

 

DOUBLES

1. Berg/ten Berge (OM) def. Doerr/Stump (MSU) 8-2

2. Sanchez/Lastre (MSU) def. Britton/Sauer (OM) 8-3

3. Thiemann/Tucker Vorster (OM) def. Cant Ilyushin (MSU) 8-6

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

SINGLES

1. Ryan Farlow (MSU) def. Devin Britton (OM) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5)

2. Jonas Berg (OM) def. Daniel Sanchez (MSU) 6-2, 6-3

3. Kalle Norberg (OM) def. Louis Cant (MSU) 6-3, 6-1

4. Bram ten Berge (OM) vs. Artem Ilyushin (MSU) 6-3, 3-6, 4-3, OM

5. Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Chris Thiemann (OM) 7-5, 6-3

6. Otto Sauer (OM) def. Chris Doerr (MSU) 7-6(4), 6-4

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1, 5, 6

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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