Florida Gators
Mississippi
Florida Men's Tennis Upsets No. 5 Ole Miss, 5-2
Saturday, March 22, 2008 | Men's Tennis
The 18th-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team defeated its highest ranked opponent of the season as the Gators knocked off No. 5 Ole Miss Friday afternoon at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center in Oxford, Miss., 5-2. The victory was UF's second straight over a top 25 opponent and fourth on the year. The Gators moved to 9-4 on the year and 4-1 in Southeastern Conference play. With the loss, the Rebels slipped to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the league.
UF's win at Ole Miss was the second for the Gators in Oxford under seventh-year head coach Andy Jackson. The victory came at a place that is traditionally a tough assignment for opponents as the Rebels entered today's match having won 48 of their last 50 regular season home matches dating back to April 6, 2003.
“We obviously played the best match we've played this year,” said UF head coach Andy Jackson. “Ole Miss is truly a top five team and had a home court advantage and we had a good result. Erik Corace went in on the No. 6 court for us and had a big match. His performance was one of many big ones for us today though.”
The match began with Florida dropping the doubles point, but the Gators came out strong on the singles courts and won five of six matches. The effort was the second time this season that UF came back and earned a win after dropping the doubles point.
Gator senior Greg Ouellette, who was elevated to the No. 3 singles ranking nationally earlier this week, evened the match with a 6-2, 6-2 showing over 16th-ranked Matthias Wellerman at the top of the lineup. Wellerman, who captured the ITA Southeast Regional Championship in singles in the fall of 2007, was the 13th top 25 opponent Ouellette has defeated this year.
Ole Miss regained the lead with a win on court four, however, Florida newcomer Tyler Hochwalt tied the match for the second time by taking out Kalle Norberg on court five (6-3, 6-3). Hochwalt's win was his eighth straight and his 12-1 dual match record leads all Gators. Hochwalt also kept his dual match record spotless in singles play (5-0).
Florida's 53rd-ranked Alex Lacroix gave the Gators the lead for good as he also picked up a straight-set win by posting on court three a 7-6, 6-2 score against 32nd-ranked Robbye Poole. Poole, a 2007 All-American, was the highest ranked opponent Lacroix has defeated this season.
Corace, who was playing in his first dual match since Feb. 9, picked up the second dual match victory of his career and clinched the victory by edging Jakob Klaeson in the second set, 6-1, 7-6 (6).
With the match decided, Nestor Briceno added to the Gator point total by outlasting 13th-ranked Erling Tveit, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on court two. Tveit was a semifinalist in the NCAA singles draw in 2006 and is a two-time All-American.
Florida returns home to get back to action on Sunday, March 23 at 1 p.m. against No. 47 Mississippi State.
College Men's Tennis
Oxford, Miss.
Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center
No. 18 Florida vs. No. 5 Ole Miss
Singles
1. (3) Greg Ouellette (UF) def. (16) Matthias Wellermann (Ole Miss), 6-2, 6-2
2. Nestor Briceno (UF) def. (13) Erling Tveit (Ole Miss), 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. (53) Alex Lacroix (UF) def. (32) Robbye Poole, Ole Miss, 7-6, 6-2
4. Jonas Berg (Ole Miss) def. Jeff Dadamo (UF), 6-4, 6-1
5. Tyler Hochwalt (UF) def. Kalle Norberg (Ole Miss), 6-3, 6-3
6. Erik Corace (UF) def. Jakob Klaeson (Ole Miss), 6-1, 7-6 (6)
Doubles
1 (6) Erling Tveit/Jonas Berg (Ole Miss) def. Jeff Dadamo/Greg Ouellete (UF), 8-4
2 (15) Matthias Wellermann /Bram ten Berge (Ole Miss) def. Nestor Briceno/Alex Lacroix (UF), 8-4
3 Tucker Vorster/Jakob Klaeson (Ole Miss) def. Tyler Hochwalt/Geoffrey Barton (UF), 8-4
Order of Finish: Doubles 3, 2, 1 Singles 1, 4, 5, 3, 6, 2
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