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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 1
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
3
vs
4
Kentucky
Rebels Drop Heartbreaker to Open SEC Play
3/1/2019 | Men's Tennis
Junior Tim Sandkaulen picked up his second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent
OXFORD, Miss. -- Things came down to the wire in the league opener for Ole Miss Men's Tennis, using a third-set tiebreaker for the decision on match point Friday. The Rebels dropped a heartbreaker, falling 3-4 to Kentucky after an intense and thrilling night at the William F. Galtney Indoor Tennis Center.
In front of a near capacity crowd, the Rebels opened up competition with the advantage, taking the first point in an exciting doubles session. Ole Miss used the volley to their advantage, capitalizing on several short swings at the net. After the veteran duo of Tim Sandkaulen and Filip Kraljevic put the Rebels in prime spot to clinch the doubles point with a 6-2 decision, rookie Simon Junk delivered with a perfectly placed ace he fired into the opposite back corner.
He and fellow freshman partner Karlo Kranic did not allow a point in the final game, triumphing 6-4.
The momentum carried over, as five of the six Rebels took the opening set in singles action. The match was evened after Kentucky got on the board with a win at fourth singles, making things even more intense as the night wore on.
Ole Miss regained the lead with Sandkaulen's success at first singles, where he defeated the Wildcats' Ryo Matsumura in identical 6-4, 6-4 wins. The victory marks his second straight defeat of a ranked opponent, the first Rebel to do so since All-American Gustav Hansson in 2017 when he did it on two separate occasions. Sandkaulen improves his win streak to four consecutive victories.
Perhaps one of the most thrilling moments of the night came on Court 3 at the racquet of senior Fabian Fallert. After Kentucky evened the contest once more with a win on Court 6, the action began to heat up. Working swiftly, Fallert secured the first set 6-1, but fell behind 5-2 in the second set before rallying to take four consecutive games.
His sixth-game win came on an amazing ground stroke, rushing the front line and nearly scooping the ball of the court before returning it across the net to a perfectly placed position in the shallow court.
The battle continued, as Kentucky's Kento Yamada tied things up, forcing a tiebreaker. Fallert once again used the art of volleying to his aide, securing the victory with a 7-4 breaker.
Classmate Filip Kraljevic looked poised to follow in the same fashion as Fallert, rallying from a 4-2 deficit to take a 5-4 lead. Kentucky tied it up once more, before Kraljevic powered through with a perfect game to lead 6-5.
The Wildcats' Enzo Wallert surged, finding late momentum to force a tiebreaker of his own, prevailing to steal the set and secure the match.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss remains at home, welcoming No. 27 Vanderbilt for a Sunday matinee. The Rebels will play a doubleheader that day, hosting Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m., following the Vanderbilt conclusion. The match is slated to be held at Galtney, pending weather changes.
RESULTS
1. T. Sandkaulen/F. Kraljevic def. C. Bourgois/E. Wallert (Kentucky), 6-2
2. F. Fallert/C. Wilson vs. K. Yamada/R. Matsumura (Kentucky), 3-4, unfinished
3. K. Kranic/S. Junk def. F. Penzkofer/T. McDonald (Kentucky), 6-4
1. T. Sandkaulen def. #29 R. Matsumura (Kentucky), 6-4, 6-4
2. E. Wallart (Kentucky) def. F. Kraljevic, 3-6, 1-6, 6-7 (2)
3. F. Fallert def. K. Yamada (Kentucky), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
4. C. Bourgois (Kentucky) def. K. Kranic, 6-3, 6-4
5. P. Aggarwal (Kentucky) def. J.S. Hain, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. K. Huempfner (Kentucky) def. S. Junk, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
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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.
In front of a near capacity crowd, the Rebels opened up competition with the advantage, taking the first point in an exciting doubles session. Ole Miss used the volley to their advantage, capitalizing on several short swings at the net. After the veteran duo of Tim Sandkaulen and Filip Kraljevic put the Rebels in prime spot to clinch the doubles point with a 6-2 decision, rookie Simon Junk delivered with a perfectly placed ace he fired into the opposite back corner.
He and fellow freshman partner Karlo Kranic did not allow a point in the final game, triumphing 6-4.
The momentum carried over, as five of the six Rebels took the opening set in singles action. The match was evened after Kentucky got on the board with a win at fourth singles, making things even more intense as the night wore on.
Ole Miss regained the lead with Sandkaulen's success at first singles, where he defeated the Wildcats' Ryo Matsumura in identical 6-4, 6-4 wins. The victory marks his second straight defeat of a ranked opponent, the first Rebel to do so since All-American Gustav Hansson in 2017 when he did it on two separate occasions. Sandkaulen improves his win streak to four consecutive victories.
Perhaps one of the most thrilling moments of the night came on Court 3 at the racquet of senior Fabian Fallert. After Kentucky evened the contest once more with a win on Court 6, the action began to heat up. Working swiftly, Fallert secured the first set 6-1, but fell behind 5-2 in the second set before rallying to take four consecutive games.
His sixth-game win came on an amazing ground stroke, rushing the front line and nearly scooping the ball of the court before returning it across the net to a perfectly placed position in the shallow court.
The battle continued, as Kentucky's Kento Yamada tied things up, forcing a tiebreaker. Fallert once again used the art of volleying to his aide, securing the victory with a 7-4 breaker.
Classmate Filip Kraljevic looked poised to follow in the same fashion as Fallert, rallying from a 4-2 deficit to take a 5-4 lead. Kentucky tied it up once more, before Kraljevic powered through with a perfect game to lead 6-5.
The Wildcats' Enzo Wallert surged, finding late momentum to force a tiebreaker of his own, prevailing to steal the set and secure the match.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss remains at home, welcoming No. 27 Vanderbilt for a Sunday matinee. The Rebels will play a doubleheader that day, hosting Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m., following the Vanderbilt conclusion. The match is slated to be held at Galtney, pending weather changes.
RESULTS
1. T. Sandkaulen/F. Kraljevic def. C. Bourgois/E. Wallert (Kentucky), 6-2
2. F. Fallert/C. Wilson vs. K. Yamada/R. Matsumura (Kentucky), 3-4, unfinished
3. K. Kranic/S. Junk def. F. Penzkofer/T. McDonald (Kentucky), 6-4
1. T. Sandkaulen def. #29 R. Matsumura (Kentucky), 6-4, 6-4
2. E. Wallart (Kentucky) def. F. Kraljevic, 3-6, 1-6, 6-7 (2)
3. F. Fallert def. K. Yamada (Kentucky), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
4. C. Bourgois (Kentucky) def. K. Kranic, 6-3, 6-4
5. P. Aggarwal (Kentucky) def. J.S. Hain, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. K. Huempfner (Kentucky) def. S. Junk, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
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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
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