The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters No. 18 In Preseason ITA National Rankings
1/4/2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 4, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss men's tennis team will begin the 2011 season ranked No. 18 in the nation as the preseason ITA National Rankings were announced Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
The nine-time defending SEC West Champions return five of the top six from last year's team including the nation's No. 2 ranked doubles tandem, Marcel Thiemann and Chris Thiemann. After going 10-1 in the SEC last year playing No. 1 doubles, the duo captured the ITA Southern Regional title and reached the final at the USTA/ITA National Indoor this past fall.
Marcel Thiemann, who became the 25th All-American in the history of the program last year, is ranked No. 32 in singles. Senior Tucker Vorster, the 2010 Southern Regional Singles Champion, is ranked No. 107 in singles.
Adding a major boost to the team this year is the return of 2009 SEC Tournament MVP Kalle Norberg, who missed the 2010 season due to injury. Also returning from last year's squad are sophomores Jonas Lutjen and Adrian Forberg Skogeng.
Virginia grabbed the top spot in the rankings, followed by defending NCAA Champion Southern California, 2010 NCAA runner-up Tennessee, Ohio State and Texas. The SEC boasts five teams in the top 25, including Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky, who highlight the Ole Miss home schedule this year.
The Rebels open the season Jan. 14 at the SEC Indoor. Their first dual match is Jan. 22 against Southern Mississippi. The match begins at 1 p.m. at the Gillom Sports Center, and admission is free.