Rebels Down Vanderbilt 6-1 On Senior Day

OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 2 nationally ranked Ole Miss men’s tennis team downed Vanderbilt 6-1 here Sunday on Senior Day, in front of a packed house at the  Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center to cap a perfect weekend and move to 8-0 in the SEC, 18-2 overall.  The Rebels defeated No.13 Kentucky 5-2 on Friday in front of more than 900 fans.

Ole Miss is now off to its best start in SEC play since 1996, when they went 11-0 and won their first ever overall SEC Championship. 

“This was a great weekend for the seniors,” head coach Billy Chadwick said.  “It was their final SEC series at home and they did a great job of stepping up and showing leadership.  The crowds were fantastic both days.  The following we have keeps the guys on top of their game.  We took care of business against two very good teams.”

Vanderbilt got off to a good start in doubles as they gained a 2-0 lead at No. 1.  But, the senior duo of Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge, showed why they are ranked No. 2 in the nation, winning seven of the next eight games against Alex Zotov and Adam Baker, to take the match 8-3.    Kalle Norberg and Otto Sauer teamed up to down James Moye and Alex DiValerio 8-3 at No. 3 for the point.

In singles, Berg followed up Friday’s big win over the nation’s No. 5 ranked player, by dominating Commodore Vijay Paul 6-1, 6-1 on court one.  

“It’s nice to finish it up with two wins,” Berg said of his final regular season home weekend.  “I love playing in front of big crowds, it helps.  It’s a lot of fun.  Beating Georgia and Tennessee here at home is probably my fondest memory so far.  It was my first win against Georgia (since I’ve been here).  That was nice.”

The match was won up on courts five and six.  Sauer made it 3-0 Rebels with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Zotov at No. 5 singles, and then fellow freshman Marcel Thiemann ended it with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over DiValerio on six.

Norberg finished off his win at three, and then ten Berge won at four for the final score.  Vanderbilt’s only win on the day came at No. 2, where Bryant Salcedo defeated freshman Devin Britton in a third set supertiebreaker.

“It’s been great to play in front of the crowds,” ten Berge echoed.  The matches against Georgia and Tennessee were the best.  The crowed played a great part in us winning those matches.  You want to win every match, he said of the start in SEC play.  We are trying to approach every match like it’s the last one.”

The Rebels will be on the road for their final three regular season matches, beginning with LSU Friday at 1 p.m.  Berg says it won’t be a problem staying on top of it the rest of the way.

"You have to be focused for every match,” he said.  “If you don’t work hard for every match, then you will lose.  We have to take care of LSU and Arkansas next.”

To follow the match, go to www.OleMissSports.com and click on the live scoring link in the calendar box.

           

DOUBLES

1. Berg/ten Berge (OM) def. Zotov/Baker (VU) 8-3

2. Cromydas/Paul (VU) def. Britton/Tucker Vorster (OM) 5-4, ret.

3. Norberg/Sauer (OM) def. Moye/DiValerio (VU) 8-3

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

SINGLES

1. Jonas Berg (OM) def. Vijay Paul (VU) 6-1, 6-1

2. Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Devin Britton (OM) 7-6(5), 4-6, 10-7

3. Kalle Norberg (OM) def. Nik Cromydas (VU) 7-6, 6-1

4. Bram ten Berge (OM) def. Adam Baker (VU) 6-4, 7-6(3)

5. Otto Sauer (OM) def. Alex Zotov (VU) 6-2, 6-2

6. Marcel Thiemann (OM) def. Alex DiVelario (VU) 6-4, 6-2

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

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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