Stefan Lindmark hits the ball during a match against Alabama. Photo: Ignacio Murillo, The Daily Mississippian.
The crucial spring break road trip for the Rebels is now complete, but more tough competition awaits as the No. 4 Southern Cal Trojans travel to Oxford to face the Rebels Netters tonight.
The Rebels went 2-2 on the road over spring break. They started the road trip with a convincing win against then No. 13 Tennessee 4-1. The Rebels lost the overall doubles point, but they rallied back and won the first six sets in singles play to win the match.
Ole Miss then headed to Athens to face then No. 16 Georgia and lost 0-4, but they rebounded strongly to defeat No. 23 Vanderbilt 4-1 in Nashville. The Rebels won the doubles point and won singles at three, four and five to win that match.
The team finished the road stretch by falling to No. 15 Kentucky in Lexington 1-4.
Junior Nik Scholtz will lead the way for the Rebels. He is ranked No. 44 in singles and earned his best win of the season against Kentucky by beating No. 10 ranked Tom Jomby in singles. Scholtz delivered Jomby just his second loss of the season.
Although the road trip is over, the competition will remain fierce. The Trojans come into the match boasting a dominating 15-2 record, and they have posted a perfect record at home by going 10-0. Victories against Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Baylor and UCLA shape the impressive run.
The only two losses for the Trojans have come against No. 1 Ohio State and in a second matchup against No. 3 UCLA.
The Trojans are led by No. 4 ranked Ray Sarmiento and No. 11 ranked Yannick Hanfmann, who combine to form the No. 8 ranked doubles team.
Ole Miss and USC have met five times previously. The Rebels beat the Trojans 4-3 on their way to the 1995 NCAA Championship final.
— Dylan Rubino
djrubino@go.olemiss.edu
