The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Grind Out 4-3 Win Over LSU
3/14/2010 | Men's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 13 nationally ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team grinded out a 4-3 win over LSU Sunday afternoon at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center to improve to 3-1 in the SEC.
With the Rebels up 3-2 and both remaining matches in the third set, sophomore Marcel Thiemann would be the one to clinch at No. 2 singles. After winning the first set against LSU's Sebastian Carlsson 6-3, Carlsson kept his team's hopes for a second straight comeback alive by winning the second 6-4. He seized the momentum briefly to gain an early break and go up 2-0 on Thiemann in the decisive set. But, Thiemann answered with a break of his own. At 5-4 Thiemann served out for the match and the Rebels' sixth straight win over the Tigers.
"I was unlucky in the second set, because I had so many break points and game points on my serve, and I didn't make it. I got a little frustrated," he said. "I got broken very early in the third set, but (coach) Toby calmed me down. I was able to fight it out. I looked at the scoreboard and saw that Jonas was down, so I knew my match would decide it."
The Rebels (11-2, 3-1) got on the board first by winning at one and two doubles pretty convincingly. The Thiemann brothers, Marcel and Chris, won 8-1 to improve to 9-3 on the year. Jonas Lutjen and Tucker Vorster clinched it 8-4 at No. 1.
Freshman Harry Fowler was first off the court in singles, giving the Rebels a 2-0 lead with his 6-3, 6-0 win over Olivier Brosos at No. 6. He picked up a much needed win.
"I've definitely been struggling all year, but today was probably the first time I felt like I just dominated," Fowler said. "I was hitting my forehands really well. This was a huge improvement and something to build on."
LSU got on the board as Mark Bowtell topped Rebel freshman Adrian Forberg Skogeng 6-2, 6-1 on court five.
On Friday, Chris Thiemann clinched the win over Arkansas. This time, he set up his brother to do it by defeating LSU's Julien Gauthier 6-1, 7-6(2) at No. 4. With the win, Thiemann is now 11-1 on the year and 3-1 in the SEC.
"I started very good and took the first set easily," he said. "In the second set he (Gauthier) picked it up a little bit, but I was able to get the breaker."
LSU pulled to within 3-2, when 44th-ranked Neal Skupski came back to beat 53rd-ranked Tucker Vorster 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
Freshman Jonas Lutjen lost his first set to Tiger freshman Stefan Szacinski 7-5 at No. 3, but was able to win the second 7-6 to keep things interesting just as teammate Marcel Thiemann had gone to a third set in his match. Lutjen ended up losing the third set 6-4 after Thiemann won his match to clinch the victory.
"This was a great team effort today," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "We did an excellent job of coming out and playing good doubles at all three positions to take the point. It was great to see Harry get in the winning column. Chris Thiemann played a great match at No.4, winning in straight sets. The match of the day was Marcel winning at No. 2. He played great the entire time, got a little unlucky in the second, but found a way to win it in the third. He gets the game ball."
The Rebels will now head to Charleston, S.C. for spring break where they will face The College of Charleston March 19 before traveling to Columbia for a match against South Carolina on March 21.
#13 Ole Miss 4
#62 LSU 3
DOUBLES
1. Vorster/Lutjen (OM) def. Skupski/Anderson (LSU) 8-4
2. Thiemann/Thiemann (OM) def. Carlsson/Gauthier (LSU) 8-1
3. Forberg Skogeng/Fowler (OM) vs. Szacinski/Borsos (LSU) 4-4, sus.
Order of Finish: 2, 1
SINGLES
1. Neal Skupski (LSU) def. Tucker Vorster (OM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Marcel Thiemann (OM) def. Sebastian Carlsson (LSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Stefan Szacinski (LSU) def. Jonas Lutjen (OM) 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
4. Chris Thiemann (OM) def. Julien Gauthier (LSU) 6-1, 7-6(2)
5. Mark Bowtell (LSU) def. Adrian Forberg Skogeng (OM) 6-2, 6-1
6. Harry Fowler (OM) def. Olivier Borsos (LSU) 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 4, 1, 2, 3
