The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Individuals
Marcel Thiemann An All-American Again
5/26/2011 | Men's Tennis
May 26, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - Ole Miss men's tennis junior Marcel Thiemann survived four match points against one of the nation's best players, Kentucky's Eric Quigley, to win in a huge third set tiebreaker earning him a place in the NCAA Singles third round at the Taube Tennis Center and All-America honors for the second year in a row.
This marked the fifth meeting between the two All-SEC players and the second year in a row for them to meet in the NCAA Championships. Thiemann needed three sets last year in the third round to beat Quigley and advance to the quarterfinals, and this year would be no different.
Quigley, the nation's No. 6 ranked player, seemed to have all the momentum taking the first set 6-1. But just as he did last year, Thiemann, himself ranked No. 36 nationally, rallied to win the second set 6-4. In the decisive set, Thiemann faced three match points in the ninth game down 3-5 with Quigley serving, but managed to hang on. Thiemann then had another match point against him trying to serve to stay in the match.
The match eventually went to a tiebreaker with Thiemann gaining a 2-0 lead. Both players came up with the big points when they needed them as Thiemann found himself down 4-5. He won three straight points and jumped up in the air knowing he had just secured his second straight All-America nod.
"This is my fifth time playing him. Last year at this tournament, I was down a set again and in the second set I came back and won the match," said Marcel, the ITA Southern Region Player to Watch. "The same thing happened today. I was down four match points. Somehow, I don't know how ... somehow, I got through.
"The difference was that I fought hard the whole time and stuck to my gameplan. I kept playing to my forehand. He's an amazing player. He would have deserved it just as much to win."
Thiemann will face Southern Cal's Ray Sarmiento in the third round Friday. Sarmiento is ranked No. 47 in the nation and defeated UCLA's Amit Inbar in three sets.
In doubles, the twins were not as lucky, losing in a third set tiebreaker to the Duke team of Reid Carleton and Henrique Cunha. Marcel and Chris Thiemann won the first set 6-3, but the Blue Devil pair claimed the second 6-3. Duke served for the match twice in the third set, but each time the Rebel tandem broke back. At 2-2 in the tiebreak, Duke won six straight points to clinch the victory, 7-6(2).
Live scoring/video of Marcel's singles match will be available and can be accessed at www.OleMissSports.com.
NCAA INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - STANFORD, Calif.
SINGLES
Second round - Marcel Thiemann (OM) def. Eric Quigley (UK) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).
DOUBLES
First round - Cunha-Carleton (DUKE) def. Thiemann-Thiemann (OM) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2)
