Nik Scholtz hits the ball during an NCAA college tennis match in Oxford, Miss., Sunday, March 23, 2014. (DM Photo/Alex Edwards)
The Rebel Netters face off against arch rival No. 17 Mississippi State at home Sunday at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
The Rebels (8-9, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) will come into the game after six days of rest. They traveled to the capital city Tuesday to take on Jackson State and won all three of their matches by a score of 4-0.
The Rebels only played doubles in the first match, but they clinched the doubles point with wins by senior Johan Backstrom and sophomore Joe Rogers at No. 2, and by sophomores Stefan Lindmark and Zach Wilder at No. 3.
The Rebels dominated singles play throughout the day. Junior William Kallberg did not make the trip and stayed in Oxford to help heal an ankle injury he suffered last Friday against Arkansas.
This game marks a crucial point in the Rebels’ season. They have two tough road games coming up next week, and a win over a top-25 ranked MSU team at home would help boost momentum.
No. 17 Mississippi State (16-7, 5-3 SEC) will enter the game on a four-game winning streak, including three wins over SEC opponents Vanderbilt, LSU and Arkansas.
After LSU claimed its first victory in conference play last weekend against Ole Miss, head coach Billy Chadwick said he would look for consistency from his team moving forward. Three wins against Jackson State put Ole Miss in the right direction, but its real test will be this weekend against MSU.
Match time is set for 1 p.m.
