Rebel Netters Ready For Year's First Major

Sept. 30, 2011

OXFORD, Miss. - Professional tennis has four major events during the year. College tennis has three, and the first one - the ITA All-American Championships - begins this weekend in Tulsa, Okla. Several members of the Ole Miss men's tennis team are among the more than 300 players expected to compete for the first national title of the 2011-12 college tennis season.

The prestigious nine-day tournament begins on Saturday, Oct. 1 with the prequalifying singles event. The last 16 spots in singles and eight spots in doubles will be on the line when qualifying matches conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 5. On Thursday, Oct. 6, main draw play gets underway as 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams vie for the titles.

Singles quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions will receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 3-6 in Flushing, N.Y.

The Rebels will send eight players to the All-American, beginning with the prequalifying on Saturday. Junior Adrian Forberg Skogeng, sophomore Johan Backstrom, redshirt freshman Alex Durham and freshman Joe Rogers will compete in the prequalifying tournament at the Case Tennis Center.

"This is one of the premier collegiate events in the country. Many of the nation's top players will be in Tulsa. The guys have been working hard, and we're looking forward to the tournament," head coach Billy Chadwick said.

Ole Miss has won All-American singles and doubles titles in the last decade, with former All-Americans Catalin Gard winning the singles in 2004 and Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge claiming the doubles crown in 2008.

The tournament will feature live stats and video, which can be accessed by going to www.OleMissSports.com and clicking on the link in the calendar.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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