Jan. 28, 2017

College Station, Texas (SMU)— The No. 23 SMU men's tennis team defeated [RV] Ole Miss, 4-3, in a close finish Saturday afternoon at the ITA Kick-Off at the Mitchell Tennis Complex. SMU is now 3-1 overall, while the Rebels fell to 1-1.

"It was a great win," head coach Carl Neufeld said. "I'm so proud of these guys, especially Markus. It's Markus' first match winning defeat. I'm so proud of him to come from behind. Ole Miss is a great team. They're always on top of the SEC. It was an exceptional team win."

Tied 3-3, Markus Kerner took Ole Miss' Fabian Fallert to a third set tiebreak and eventually broke defeating Fallert 7-5 in the extra set. Kerner dropped the first set 5-7, but bounced back to take the second set 6-4 and eventually won the match with the victory.

In singles play, Hunter Johnson defeated No. 57 Tim Sandkaulen in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Yates Johnson also picked up a victory defeating Flilip Kraljevic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

SMU took an early, 1-0, lead winning the doubles competition in a tight battle. Samm Butler and Ronald Slobodchikov defeated, Zvonimir Babic/Kraljevic, the No. 40 doubles duo in the country, 6-4. While Hunter and Yates Johnson secured the doubles point beating the No. 13 doubles team in the nation, Grey Hamilton/Fallert, 7-5.

"We'll have to see who we play tomorrow," Neufeld said. "Both teams could be in the top 10. It will be a great test no matter who we play."

The Mustangs are set to play the winner of No. 15 Texas A&M/No. 21 Baylor tomorrow at 2 p.m. for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend championship.

Tennis Match Results
Ole Miss vs SMU
Jan 28, 2017 at College Station, TX
(George P. Mitchell Tennis Center)
 
#23 SMU 4, Ole Miss 3
Singles competition
1. #14 Gustav Hansson (OM) def. Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
2. Hunter Johnson (SMU) def. #57 Tim Sandkaulen (OM) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ricardo Jorge (OM) def. Samm Butler (SMU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
4. Markus Kerner (SMU) def. Fabian Fallert (OM) 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Yates Johnson (SMU) def. Filip Kraljevic (OM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Zvonimir Babic (OM) def. Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Hunter Johnson/Yates Johnson (SMU) def. #13 Fabian Fallert/Grey Hamilton (OM) 7-5
2. Samm Butler/Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) def. #40 Zvonimir Babic/Filip Kraljevic (OM) 6-4
3. #57 Gustav Hansson/Tim Sandkaulen (OM) def. Markus Kerner/Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Ole Miss 1-1
SMU 3-1; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,2,6,1,3,4)
ITA Kick-Off Weekend