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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Rebels Stop the Tide
3/30/2018 | Men's Tennis
OXFORD, Miss. - As a full moon rose over the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, sophomore Tim Sandkaulen began a second set comeback on his way to clinching a 4-2 win for the Ole Miss men's tennis team against Alabama here Friday night.
With the Rebels leading 3-2 and needing just one point, it would be up to Sandkaulen at No. 1 and junior Fabian Fallert at No. 2, to finish off the win. With Fallert serving 5-4, 30-0, Sandkaulen closed out Alabama's Mazen Osama 7-5, 7-6(4) to clinch the Rebels' second straight win in the series.
Sandkaulen played a huge role in giving the Rebels the early momentum as well, teaming with Grey Hamilton to clinch the doubles point. Filip Kraljevic and Zvonimir Babic won 6-2 on court two, but the remaining matches were tight. Sandkaulen and Hamilton faced match points, but rallied and won a tiebreaker 7-6(3) to deliver the 1-0 lead for the Rebels.
The Rebels carried the momentum into singles, with Hamilton getting off the court quick, 6-2, 6-2, against Patrick Kaukovalta at No. 3.
After Alabama got on the board with a win on court six, Finn Reynolds finished off Alexey Nesterov 6-3, 6-1 on court five to hand the Rebels a 3-1 lead.
Alabama pulled to within 3-2 with a three-set win on court four against Kraljevic, leaving it in the hands of Sandkaulen and Fallert for the final point.
Sandkaulen trailed 5-2 in the second set, but won four straight games to go up 6-5. He served for the match, but Osama broke back to force a tiebreaker. At 3-3 in the tiebreaker, Sandkaulen won two straight points to go up 5-3, just as Fallert had broken for a 5-4 lead in his third set on court two. Osama got the next point, for 5-4, but then Sandkaulen won three straight points to clinch it.
Quick Hits…
• The Rebels are now 10-9 overall and 2-7 in the SEC.
• The Rebels have now won two straight against Alabama.
• The win snapped a six-match losing streak for the Rebels.
• Tim Sandkaulen and Grey Hamilton moved to 5-0 in doubles.
• Fabian Fallert played his first ever SEC match at No. 2 singles.
#40 Ole Miss 4, #47 Alabama 2
Doubles
1. Tim Sandkaulen/Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Edison Ortiz/Mazen Osama (UA) 7-6(3)
2. Filip Kraljevic/Zvonimir Babic (OM) def. Thibault Cancel/Alexey Nesterov (UA) 6-2
3. Fabian Fallert/Finn Reynolds (OM) vs. Patrick Kaukovlata/Riccardo Roberto (UA) 6-5, sus.
Order of Finish: 2, 1
Singles
1. #28 Tim Sandkaulen (OM) def. #95 Mazen Osama (UA) 7-5, 7-6(4)
2. Fabian Fallert (OM) vs. Thibault Cancel (UA) 6-0, 3-6, 5-4, sus.
3. Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Edson Ortiz (UA) def. Filip Kraljevic (OM) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Finn Reynolds (OM) def. Alexey Nesterov (UA) 6-1, 6-4
6. Riccardo Roberto (UA) def. Cotter Wilson (OM) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 5, 4, 1
At the Net with Head Coach Toby Hansson
"It has been a really tough few weeks, but the guys have done a great job of putting the disappointment of not being able to win the last few matches behind them and moving forward. They were really locked in from the beginning of this match. The energy was great, and they all played every point like it was the last one from doubles into the singles. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going."
On getting the doubles point and early wins from Grey and Finn in singles…
"Tim and Grey were down a match point and were able to pull out the win to give us the early momentum. Grey played a great match against a really good player. That was huge for us to keep the momentum going and give everyone else confidence. It was nice to see Finn out there, he's really starting to play solid tennis. He did a great job getting the win and increasing our lead."
On Tim coming back to clinch…
"The way Tim closed out his match from being down 5-2 was awesome. We talked on the changeover, and I told him hold your serve here and we'll see what happens. He got the break back and then started playing flawless tennis from that point. Even though he got broken back for 6-6, it didn't bother him. The way he closed out the match was very impressive, especially against an experienced player, who has been in that situation many times before."
On Fabi being back in the lineup…
"It's great to have Fabi back in the lineup, and playing No. 2 singles for the first time ever in the SEC, he handled himself like a champion. In the weeks that he has been out, Fabi has worked hard to prepare himself the best way he could and it paid off."
Sophomore Tim Sandkaulen
"We really needed this win. It's a big win for the team and winning feels great, especially at home. We've had a couple of tough weeks, especially me. I lost both my matches last week in a third set tiebreaker. The comeback in doubles and singles will help me in the future."
On playing doubles with Grey…
"Usually when you switch doubles partners and lineups, it takes a couple matches to get going, but we've been good so far. Today was the first time we've been in trouble. We saved match points, and it felt great to come back and clinch the point."
Next up…
The Rebels will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m., at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
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
