University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#26 Ole Miss
Men's Tennis Loses to Ole Miss in SEC Opener
March 04, 2016 | Men's Tennis
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers won the doubles point but could not turn around a slow start to singles in a 5-2 loss to Ole Miss to start the SEC men's tennis schedule Friday at Barksdale Stadium.
The Vols (6-5, 0-1 SEC) won the doubles point and briefly led 2-1 on an SEC debut win by freshman Srdjan Jakovljevic on court 4. Ole Miss' five of six first sets in singles paid off down the stretch as the Rebels (6-3, 1-0) closed out three close second sets to clinch the match at 4-2.
"It's always important to get off to a good start, and I think in doubles, we did a good job of that," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "Once we got the doubles point, I think everybody wanted to do well. Ole Miss pushed back early in singles and certainly got us on our back foot. One of the things we learned from today is that we have to come out in singles and establish the same presence as we had in doubles."
On Sunday, the Vols will host No. 27 Arkansas at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Tennessee started the day with a high-energy display across the courts. After losing on court 3, the Vols rolled to the doubles point on the remaining courts. Jack Schipanski and Luis Valero won 6-3 on court 1, and Jack Heslin and Preston Touliatos won 6-2 on court 2.
Ole Miss picked up quick momentum to start singles play, taking five of six first sets quickly and tying the match 1-1 on a 6-1, 6-2 win by Zvonimir Babic on court 6. The Vols dug into many of the second sets, playing much closer after the midway point of singles.
Jakovljevic closed out a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court 4 over Ricardo Jorge to put Tennessee up 2-1. Ole Miss tied the match minutes later at 2-2 on court 5, leaving the top half of the lineup still on court.
Valero forced a second-set tiebreaker at the top of the lineup with a needle threading forehand pass off of Stefan Lindmark's overhead. After a back-and-forth tiebreaker, Valero fell behind 6-5 with a backhand up the line that was narrowly out. Lindmark won the next point to put Ole Miss ahead 3-2 with a 6-1, 7-6(5) win.
On court 2, Timo Stodder had rallied back from a double break in the second set to tie it at 5-5. Gustav won the final two games, however, to clinch the match with the 6-2, 7-5 victory.
The match ended at 5-2 as the court 3 match was played to conclusion. Jack Schipanski forced a third set but eventually lost to Fabian Fallert 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
#26 Ole Miss 5, #54 Tennessee 2
Singles
1. Stefan Lindmark, OM, def. #125 Luis Valero, UT, 6-1, 7-6(5)
2. Gustav Hansson, OM, def. Timo Stodder, UT, 6-2, 7-5
3. Fabian Fallert, OM, def. Jack Schipanski, UT, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
4. Srdjan Jakovljevic, UT, def. Ricardo Jorge, OM, 6-4, 6-4
5. Grey Hamilton, OM, def. Preston Touliatos, UT, 7-5, 6-3
6. Zvonimir Babic, OM, def. Jack Heslin, UT, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. #42 Schipanski/Valero, UT, def. Babic/Kraljevic, OM, 6-3
2. Heslin/Touliatos, UT, def. Jorge/Lindmark, OM, 6-4
3. Hamilton/Fallert, OM, def. Jakovljevic/Stodder, UT, 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,5,1,2,3).
