Rebel Netters Ready For Year's First Major

Sept. 30, 2010

OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss men's tennis team is set to begin competing in the year's first major event, the D'Novo ITA All-American Championships, this weekend in Tulsa, Okla.

The tournament begins Saturday with the pre-qualifying tournament and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 9 with the main draw finals.

"This is one of the premier collegiate events in the country," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "All the guys have been working hard and improving this fall, and we're looking forward to a good tournament."

The Rebels, who have won nine consecutive SEC West titles, will send all seven members of the team to the championship, with sophomore Adrian Forberg Skogeng and freshman Alex Durham competing in the pre-qualifying singles beginning Saturday.

Senior Kalle Norberg (2009 SEC Tournament MVP) returns to the courts after missing last year due to injury. Fellow senior Tucker Vorster, junior Chris Thiemann and sophomore Jonas Lutjen join Norberg in the qualifying singles, which begins Monday, Oct. 4.

All six will be trying to join returning All-American Marcel Thiemann in the main draw, which begins Oct. 7. He is ranked No. 15 in the nation.

In doubles, the Thiemann twins, ranked No. 10 nationally, and Vorster and Lutjen, ranked No. 22, are in the main draw, while Norberg and Forberg Skogeng are in qualifying doubles. The Rebels are the only team to have two teams in the main draw in doubles.

Ole Miss has had recent success at the tournament, with former All-Americans Catalin Gard winning the singles title in 2004 and Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge claiming the doubles crown in 2008.

Live stats will be available throughout the tournament by going to www.OleMissSports.com and clicking on the link on the men's tennis schedule page.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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