Members of the tennis team react after learning they will host the NCAA Regionals. / (Austin McAfee)
BY AUSTIN MILLER
akmiller90@gmail.com
For the second straight year and the 11th time in the history of the program, the Ole Miss men’s tennis team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center May 10-11.
“It’s become a tradition here, and it’s a great tradition,” head coach Billy Chadwick said of hosting. “It’s a big-time advantage if you’re going to move on to the final 16, and we’re in hopes that we are going to take advantage of that.”
Ole Miss (15-8), which lost to UCLA, 4-1, in the third round of the NCAA Championships last season, is the No. 6 overall seed and will play Patriot League champion Lehigh (18-5) in the first round on May 10 at noon.
In the other first round match, No. 32 Memphis, the Conference USA champion, will play No. 39 BYU from the West Coast Conference, and the winners will play in the second round on May 11 at 2 p.m.
“This is a team that’s been there before, and they also know how hard we had to work that last match against Michigan to go to the final 16,” Chadwick said. “This year will be no exception. We got to be ready to play against Lehigh, and if we get through that one, then either BYU and Memphis are two really good opponents.”
The Rebels ended the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation and lost in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament to Alabama.
“I feel like the team got a little bit stronger from (the loss to Alabama), and I think you’re going to see a team come out hungry in this regional,” Chadwick said.
“We feel like the break has served us well. The injuries are starting to be manageable. We’re starting to practice hard every day, everybody. I feel like we’re going to be in good shape when it comes time to tee it off next Friday.”
Women’s tennis headed back to Lubbock for NCAA Regional
The Ole Miss women’s tennis team will return to Texas Tech for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels played a regular season match in Lubbock last season, where they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Red Raiders.
In the first round, Ole Miss (16-13) will play No. 14 Duke (14-9), which was ranked as high as No. 2 earlier this season, at 11 a.m. May 11.
Regional host Texas Tech (19-6), ranked No. 17 in the nation, is the No. 16 overall seed and will play No. 67 College Charleston (20-8), the Southern Conference champion, in the other first round match. The winners will play in the second round Sunday at 1 p.m.
“We played there last year, so we are well aware of the surroundings there,” head coach Mark Beyers said. “We’ve been there before, so it’s not a total surprise there. Duke, obviously earlier in the year, was one of the top teams in the country, but they have suffered some injuries, so maybe not the worst draw there.
“As far as looking ahead to trying to get to the Round of 16, you’re not facing a No. 1 or No. 2 team in the country right away. I think it’s a great draw.”
