University of Louisville
OLE MISS
No. 13 Men's Tennis Tops No. 18 Mississippi 4-2 in ITA Kickoff Finals
January 30, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 30, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The 13th-ranked University of Louisville men's tennis team defeated No. 18 Mississippi 4-2 in the finals of the 2011 ITA Kickoff Weekend to advance to the National Indoor Championship Feb. 18-21 in Seattle, Wash.
"I have such great confidence in this group of guys," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "I believe we are a team of destiny and that this will be a special season. Hopefully we'll see that in Seattle."
The Cardinals (5-0) lost the doubles point for the first time this season, but rallied behind victories from Andrew Carter, Austen Childs, and Viktor Maksimcuk while Alejandro Calligari sealed the 4-2 win.
The doubles point featured a battle for the early lead. Mississippi struck first at the No. 2 spot where the duo of Kalle Norberg and Tucker Vorster defeated Louisville's Simon Childs and Robert Hall 8-4. The Cards responded at the top-seed which saw Austen Childs and Viktor Maksimcuk upset the nation's second ranked team of Marcel and Chris Thiemann 8-5. The point came down to court three where Jonas Jutjen and Johan Bakstrom edged Alejandro Calligari and Amaury Derognat 9-7.
"When we were down 1-0 after doubles, I was concerned because we'd lost to this team last year in the same situation," said Rex Ecarma. "This was the first point we've lost all season and it was so competitive that it hurt to lose. I told the team that while it was unplanned, the only thing it did was prolong the inevitable. I believed we'd win four or more singles matches, it was just going to take longer."
In singles action, the Cards tied the match quickly with Andrew Carter's 6-2, 6-2 victory over Bakstrom at the No. 6 spot. Eighth-ranked Austen Childs' 6-2, 6-1 win over Marcel Thiemann at No. 1 pulled Louisville ahead 2-1. Ole Miss responded with Norberg's 6-3, 6-3 decision over Simon Childs at the three-spot to tie the match at 2-2. Maksimcuk regained the lead for Louisville by defeating Vorster 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 2 position.
The deciding point came at the No. 4 slot where Calligari took the first set 6-3. The Rebels' Lutjen came back to win the second 6-1, forcing a third set which Calligari won 6-4 to clinch the match and send the Cardinals to their second straight National Indoor Championship.
At No. 5, Robert Hall battled to take the first set 7-5 against Chris Thiemann, but fell 6-3 in the second set. Hall was ahead 3-2 in the third when the match ended.
ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship Match
January 30, 2010 - Louisville, Ky. - Bass-Rudd Tennis Center
#13 Louisville 4 - No. 18 Mississippi 2
Singles
1 - #8 Austen Childs (UL) d. #32 Marcel Thiemann (UM) 6-2, 6-1
2 - #75 Viktor Maksimcuk (UL) d. #107 Tucker Vorster (UM) 6-3, 6-2
3 - Kalle Norberg (UM) d. #98 Simon Childs (UL) 6-3, 6-3
4 - Alejandro Calligari (UL) vs. Jonas Lutjen (UM) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
5 - Robert Hall (UL) vs. Chris Thiemann (UM) (Hall led 7-5, 3-6, 3-2, susp.
6 - Andrew Carter (UL) d. John Bakstrom (UM) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 1, 3, 2,4
Doubles
1 - A. Childs/Maksimcuk (UL) d. #2 Thiemann/Thiemann (UM) 8-5
2 - Norberg/Vorster (UM) d. S. Childs/Hall 8-4
3 - Lutjen/Bakstrom (UM) d. Calligari/Amaury Derognat (UL) 9-7
Order of finish: 2,1,3
Players Mentioned
