.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Auburn - SEC Championship
Men's Tennis Downs Auburn 4-1 in SEC Tournament
4/27/2017 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- This time of year, it's about survive and advance. The Ole Miss men's tennis team did that here Thursday in the second round of the SEC Tournament, downing Auburn 4-1 at the Goodfriend Tennis Center to move on to the quarterfinals.
The Rebels will face the No. 3 seed, Florida, Friday at 8 a.m. CT.
With rain, the match was moved indoors, but that didn't dampen the Rebels at all, as they took control from the beginning and never let up.
In the regular season meeting, Ole Miss won 4-0, but four of the matches went three sets. This time the Rebels would grab the doubles point again, and three singles matches in straight sets, to close out the Tigers.
Tim Sandkaulen and Filip Kraljevic won 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. Fabian Fallert and Grey Hamilton, ranked No. 23, took control early against 19th-ranked Max Hinnisdaels and Conner Huertas at No. 1, and held for 6-4, to clinch the point.
The Rebels maintained momentum in singles, winning five of six first sets. Auburn tied the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court six from Brandon Laubser against Robert Mounger.
That would be it for Auburn, as the Rebels closed out straight set wins on courts three, four and five. Fallert dominated his opponent, Huertas, 6-0, 6-0 on court three and then Kraljevic finished off Dante Saleh 6-4, 6-3 at five to make it 3-1.
With senior Ricardo Jorge up a set and tied 4-4 in the second at one, and Sandkaulen starting a third set at two, Hamilton closed out the Tigers with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Edward Nguyen on court five.
At the Net...
• The Rebels improved to 16-8 on the season
• The Rebels have won two straight against Auburn
• The Rebels increased their win streak to eight
• Fabian Fallert improved to 24-6 overall, 17-3 in dual matches
• Fallert has won 11 in a row
• Fallert and Grey Hamilton beat the No. 15 ranked team at No. 1 doubles to clinch the point
• Hamilton improved to 8-3 in dual matches and has won four in a row
• This marks the third time for Hamilton to clinch this year, second time against an SEC opponent
Complete Results
Doubles
1. #23 Fallert/Hamilton (OM) def. #19 Hinnisdaels/Huertas (AU) 6-4
2. Sandkaulen/Kraljevic (OM) def. Nguyen/Laubser (AU) 6-4
3. Jorge/Mounger (OM) vs. Saleh/Thestrup (AU) 2-5, sus.
Order of Finish: 2, 1
Singles
1. Ricardo Jorge vs. #57 Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 7-5, 4-4, sus.
2. Tim Sandkaulen (OM) vs. Carles Sarrio (AU) 6-3, 3-6, sus.
3. Fabian Fallert (OM) def. Conner Huertas (AU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Filip Kraljevic (OM) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Robert Mounger (OM) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 4, 5
Thoughts from head coach Toby Hansson...
"We came out ready to play today. We played well on all three courts in doubles and we kept the momentum in singles, winning five out of six first sets. We never gave them a chance to get back in the match after that. I am very pleased with our team's performance today."
Junior Grey Hamilton...
"Today was definitely a big one for the team. We played lights out, pretty much across the board. Fabi and I played a very solid doubles match against a top 20 team, and Filip and Tim were able to step up to No. 2 and get the win there. In singles, we all played well from the beginning. I felt in control of my match the entire time, and it was especially easy to stay calm and positive while Fabi was next to me winning so easily."
Up next...
The Rebels will face the No. 3 seed, Florida Friday at 8 a.m. CT in the quarterfinals. Florida won the regular season meeting 4-1.
For more information on Ole Miss Men's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
Players Mentioned
