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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
SEC Tournament - South Carolina
Men's Tennis Advances at SEC Tournament
4/26/2018 | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Ole Miss men's tennis has battled adversity all season and came into the SEC Tournament likely needing a win to secure their 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. Behind the doubles point and strong singles play, the Rebels topped seven seeded South Carolina 4-1 Thursday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
The Rebels advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 2 seed Mississippi State Friday at 12 p.m.
Mother nature forced the other Noon match to be moved up to 10 a.m. and indoors, but the rain stopped, the sun finally came out and they dried the courts for the Rebels and Gamecocks to begin play at 1 p.m.
The Rebels came out firing in doubles and cruised to a 6-2 win on court one with Tim Sandkaulen and Grey Hamilton, and then Fabian Fallert and Finn Reynolds finished off a 6-1 win on court three to hand the Gamecocks their first doubles point loss in five matches. Interestingly, the last time the Gamecocks lost the point before Thursday, was the regular season meeting with the Rebels a month ago.
Ole Miss carried the momentum over to singles, taking four first sets to South Carolina's two. Junior Filip Kraljevic knocked off No. 36 ranked Gabriel Friedrich 6-3, 6-3 on court two, while South Carolina won in straight sets on court six as the Rebels led 2-1.
Hamilton saved set point to force a first set tiebreaker and won it on his way to a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory against Gamecock Harrison O'Keefe on court four to put the Rebels within one, 3-1.
The final three matches went three sets. Sandkaulen was one of two Rebels who dropped his first set - a close one at that - but he rallied for a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 win against Gamecock Paul Jubb at No. 1 singles, to clinch the win.
When play was stopped, Fallert was tied 3-3 in the third on court three and Reynolds led 3-0 in the third on court five.
Quick Hits...
• The Rebels are now 14-11 overall.
• The Rebels will face No. 2 seed Mississippi State Friday at 12 p.m., in the quarterfinals.
• Tim Sandkaulen and Grey Hamilton improved to 7-2 overall.
• Filip Kraljevic snapped a three-match losing streak with his win.
• Hamilton improved to 5-2 at No. 4 singles.
• Sandkaulen improved to 7-6 at No. 1 singles.
#40 Ole Miss 4, #28 South Carolina 1
Doubles
1. #46 Tim Sandkaulen/Grey Hamilton (OM) def. #38 Yancy Dennis/Harrison O'Keefe (SC) 6-2
2. Zvonimir Babic/Filip Kraljevic (OM) vs. #57 Thomas Mayronne/Gabriel Friedrich (SC) 3-4, sus.
3. Fabian Fallert/Finn Reynolds (OM) def. Paul Jubb/Wood Benton (SC) 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. #31 Tim Sandkaulen (OM) def. #58 Paul Jubb (SC) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
2. Filip Kraljevic (OM) def. #36 Gabriel Friedrich (SC) 6-3, 6-3
3. Fabian Fallert (OM) vs. Thomas Mayronne (SC) 6-2, 3-6, 3-3, sus.
4. Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Harrison O'Keefe (SC) 7-6(4), 6-4
5. Finn Reynolds (OM) vs. Yancy Dennis (SC) 7-5, 4-6, 3-0, sus.
6. Wood Benton (SC) def. Cotter Wilson (OM) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, 1
At the Net with Head Coach Toby Hansson...
"We knew this was a big match for us and the guys really stepped it up today. We came out with tons of energy in doubles and really took it to our opponents. We kept the momentum going in singles and showed real determination and fighting spirit to close the match out. Now we have to recharge and come out with the same sense of urgency tomorrow."
Next up...
The Rebels face No. 2 seed Mississippi State Friday at 12 p.m. in the quarterfinals. MSU defeated the Rebels 5-2 during the regular season meeting.
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.
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Players Mentioned
