Rebel Netters Host NCAA Regional

Photo by UM photographer Kevin Bain / Ole Miss Communications

The Ole Miss men’s tennis team finished the regular season 10-1 at home, and they will have the opportunity to add to that as hosts of the NCAA Championship first and second rounds. The Rebels are the No. 14 seed in the NCAA 64-team bracket announced Tuesday and will face Alabama State in the first round.

Also coming to Oxford for the four-team regional is Columbia and Georgia Tech. The Rebels (17-8) will play Alabama State at 3 p.m. Friday, May 8, at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, with Columbia and Georgia Tech kicking things off at Noon. The winners will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in Waco, Texas.

“We are very excited to host,” head coach Toby Hansson said. “The guys have worked extremely hard to get this opportunity, and they deserve it. We have had a lot of success at home, and we are looking forward to playing in front of our great fans.”

The Rebels have been ranked inside the top 15 10 straight weeks and advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals, which assured them of hosting for the 12th time and third time in the last four years. Senior Nik Scholtz became the first Rebel to earn All-SEC First Team honors all four years and junior Stefan Lindmark went undefeated in the SEC to also earn All-SEC First Team honors. Freshman Gustav Hansson made the second team and the SEC All-Freshman Team.

For Scholtz, who will graduate next weekend, and fellow senior William Kallberg, it means one last go around at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.

“I am really excited about playing at home again,” Scholtz said. “It’s always nice when you can start the NCAAs at home. It’s kind of like a bonus for all the hard work you put in during the season. I have family coming for graduation, so it’s nice that they will get to see me play as well.”

Alabama State won the Southwestern Athletic Conference to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Columbia posted a 14-5 overall record and won the Ivy League to earn the automatic bid. The Lions carry a seven-match win streak into their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance. Georgia Tech (14-12) earned an at-large bid from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“When you get to this point in the season, you have to be prepared for a battle no matter who you play,” Scholtz added. “If you don’t give it 110 percent, you’re going to come up short. We know that, and for the younger guys, I’ll make sure they know that.”

Tickets for the NCAA first and second rounds are $7 per day or $10 for the entire session, and $3 for students college-aged and younger.

For more information on Ole Miss Men’s Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis.

NCAA First and Second Rounds
Friday, May 8
Noon — Columbia vs. Georgia Tech
3 p.m. — Alabama State vs. No. 14 Ole Miss
Saturday, May 9
1 p.m. – Championship Match

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information