The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Ready To Begin National Title Chase
5/7/2009 | Men's Tennis
Ole Miss comes into the NCAAs riding a 17-match win streak, including capturing the SEC regular season championship and repeating as Tournament Champion. The Rebels are led by senior All-Americans Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles and ready for the challenge of being on the road to begin NCAA play for the first time in their careers.
“The most important thing right now is to try to keep the momentum we created over the course of the season,” said ten Berge. “We seem to have found the right formula, and we’re sticking together as a team. We don’t have the easiest draw. Everybody realizes this. But as a team, we may be the best out there.
“Maybe not talent-wise,” ten Berge continued, “but as a true team and sticking together and fighting for one another, I think we can go a long way.”
The Rebels have faced LSU (10-11) twice this year, including down in
“We know that we can beat them there, because we have done that,” said this year’s SEC Coach of the Year, Billy Chadwick. "Secondly, the guys know how hard we had to work to win when we were down there and how difficult those surroundings are. I feel like that because we played down there we are better prepared for the task.
“They are very good in doubles. They’re very good at No. 1 singles. Michael Venus was the SEC Player of the Year and for good reason. He’s been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. He’s a great player. So they’re looking at it and thinking they’re going to have two points to start with. They have the kind of team that plays very aggressive. They’re better on their home court because their courts are very fast. That lends itself to their style of play. It’s a tough assignment down there.”
Rice will try to end the Tiger’s season when the two teams meet at 1 p.m., following the Rebels and
The winner of Saturday’s match will advance to the final 16 in
A big key to the Rebels success has been junior Kalle Norberg, the only player in the SEC to go undefeated in league play this season.
Another reason the Rebels are ranked No. 2 is the four freshmen who are playing like savvy veterans.
“They are getting better with every match,” Chadwick noted. You really saw that in the SEC Championship match. If you look at it closer, all the freshmen went undefeated (in the tournament) and the upperclassmen kind of struggled. A lot of that had to do with who they were matched up with to play, but the bottom line is the freshmen are getting better with every match and they are peaking.”
Fans not able to make the trip to
