The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Rebels Open SEC Play 2-0
3/4/2012 | Men's Tennis
March 4, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss men's tennis team capped a successful Southeastern Conference opening weekend with a 6-1 win against Alabama here Sunday at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center/Galtney Courts.
On Friday, the Rebels took down No. 12 Auburn 5-2 and are one of only four teams to post a 2-0 record on the opening weekend of SEC play.
After a big win on Friday, head coach Billy Chadwick cautioned the team against a letdown, but he didn't have to worry as the Rebels came out strong again in doubles to win the point. Nik Scholtz and Jonas Lutjen dominated 8-2 at No. 2 doubles and then the Chris Thiemann and Marcel Thiemann won 8-5 at No. 1 to secure the 1-0 lead.
The Rebels won five of six first sets and never looked back. Marcel was first off the court, taking out UA's Ricky Doverspike 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles to finish the weekend 3-1. Freshman William Kallberg made it 3-0 downing the Crimson Tide's Daniil Proskura 6-2, 6-2 on court four.
Moments later, Lutjen capped a 4-0 weekend for him, finishing off Vikram Reddy 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles to clinch the victory.
Johan Backstrom defeated Michael Thompson 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 6 spot, and then Scholtz beat fellow countryman Jarryd Botha 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 singles to complete the Rebel scoring.
The Rebels will now turn their attention to a huge match Wednesday against No. 4 Virginia. The two teams will square off at 2 p.m. at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
Follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissMTennis and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissMTennis.
