Rebels Defeat Kentucky 5-2, Now 7-0 In SEC

OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 2 nationally ranked Ole Miss men’s tennis team defeated No. 13 Kentucky 5-2 in front of more than 900 fans at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center here Friday.  With the win, the Rebels improved to 17-2 overall and 7-0 in the SEC as they get to host Vanderbilt Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Rebels equaled their best start in SEC play since the 2004 season when they started 7-0.  Kentucky falls to 13-7 overall and 3-4 in conference play. This marked Ole Miss’ second win against Kentucky this season, also topping the Wildcats 4-3 in the first round of the ITA National Team Indoor here on Jan. 31.

Ole Miss got things going early by taking the doubles point.  Kentucky struck first, as 19th-ranked Bruno Agostinelli and Brad Cox took out the No. 2 team in the nation, Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge, 8-5.  Devin Britton and Tucker Vorster downed Graeme Dyce and Eric Quigley 8-2 on court two to even it up.  Kalle Norberg and Otto Sauer defeated Alberto Gonzalez and Alex Musialek 8-5 at No. 3 to a roaring approval from the crowd as the Rebels took a 1-0 lead.

Frsehman Marcel Thiemann made it 2-0 Rebels with a quick 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.  Norberg increased the lead to 3-0 by topping UK’s Cox 6-3, 6-4 on court three, and then Britton clinched the victory, winning a second set tiebreaker against Quigley, 7-6(5), after taking the first set 6-3.  Britton has now clinched five wins for the Rebels this season while improving to 5-2 in the SEC.

"This was a great day,” head coach Billy Chadwick said.  “The weather was perfect, the crowd was outstanding again, and we got a win over a very good team.  Marcel took care of business at six, Kalle did what he always does, and then Devin played great at two to clinch.”

Once the match was clinched, Sauer retired at No. 5 singles up 6-4, 4-3.   In the feature match of the day, 23rd-ranked Berg defeated No. 5 ranked Agostinelli 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 at No. 1 singles.  Kentucky’s Musialek got by ten Berge 6-4, 5-7, 12-10 at No. 4.

Sunday’s match against Vanderbilt will be Senior Day. The Rebels will honor seniors Berg and ten Berge prior to the start of the match.

DOUBLES

1. Agostinelli/Cox (UK) def. Berg/ten Berge (OM) 8-5

2. Britton/Tucker Vorster (OM) def. Dyce/Quigley (UK) 8-2

3. Norberg/Sauer (OM) def. Gonzalez/Musialek (UK) 8-5

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES

1. Jonas Berg (OM) def. Bruno Agostinelli (UK) 6-3, 3-6, 10-6

2. Devin Britton (OM) def. Eric Quigley (UK) 6-3, 7-6(5)

3. Kalle Norberg (OM) def. Brad Cox (UK) 6-3, 6-4

4. Alex Musialek (UK) def. Bram ten Berge (OM) 6-4, 5-7, 12-10

5. Graeme Dyce (UK) def. Otto Sauer (OM) 4-6, 3-4, ret.

6. Marcel Thiemann (OM) def. Alberto Gonzalez (UK) 6-0, 6-2

Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2, 5, 1, 4

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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