The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
No. 4 Rebels Edged by No. 23 Vanderbilt
3/17/2013 | Men's Tennis
March 17, 2013
OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 4 ranked Ole Miss men's tennis team dropped a tough 4-3 decision to No.23 Vanderbilt in the final match of the Spring Break Slam here Sunday at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
With the loss the Rebels are now 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. Vanderbilt improved to 13-4 and 4-1 in the SEC.
The Rebels took the early lead by winning the doubles, but Vanderbilt won four of the six singles to capture the 4-3 win.
Ole Miss led 3-2, but then Vanderbilt evened it up by winning a three-setter at four. All eyes then turned to court six where senior Adrian Forberg-Skogeng battled Vanderbilt freshman Rhys Johnson in the final set. Johnson was able to break early and hold for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win to clinch the team victory.
The Rebels had a strong finish at No. 1 and 2 doubles, beating Vanderbilt 8-5 and 8-6, respectively, to take the early 1-0 lead.
Both Nik Scholtz and Jonas Lutjen helped give the Rebels their two singles points. Scholtz, ranked No. 14 in the nation, won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 beating 19th-ranked Ryan Lipman, snapping the Commodore's 12-match win streak. Lutjen, ranked No. 13, pulled out a tough three-setter at No. 2 singles against 54th-ranked Gonzales Austin, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. That made it 3-2 after Vanderbilt had won at No. 3 and 5 singles.
With the Rebels facing three straight SEC matches on the road beginning at LSU and Arkansas, Chadwick says the Rebels need to get a little bit tougher this week and get ready to go. "We will have our hands full at LSU and Arkansas," said Chadwick.
The Rebels will take on LSU on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and Arkansas on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Follow the team on Twitter, @OleMissMTennis and on Facebook, OleMissMTennis for the latest updates and scores.
Players Mentioned
