Tigers Trounce Rebels 5-2

Saturday, February 10

Oxford, Miss.

5:00 PM

University of Memphis

Ole Miss

Feb 10, 2024 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Memphis men's tennis team opened up a three-match road trip Saturday night with a 5-2 win over Ole Miss at the William F. Galtney Indoor Tennis Center in Oxford. After dropping the doubles point, the Tigers claimed five singles wins and the match victory.

The Tigers improved to 7-2 on the year, while the Rebels dropped to 4-3.

"Words cannot explain how tough my guys were tonight," Memphis head coach Chris Doerr said. "Losing the doubles and then going down first sets in four singles, but still finding a way back was incredible."

Memphis began the match with a tough doubles battle as No. 38-ranked tandem Pablo Alemany and Charlie Barry fell 6-3 on court one, but Conor Gannon and Harry Rock responded with a 6-3 win of their own at the second position to even the match. The Rebels emerged with the first point, however, from court three with a 6-4 win.

In singles, the Tigers again began with a disadvantage with a straight-set loss on court five to put Ole Miss in front 2-0. That would be all the Rebs would get though.

Gannon put Memphis on the board with a big bounce back win (6-4, 6-4) on court two. No. 123 Pau Fanlo then followed with a 7-6(1), 6-2 victory on court three to even the match at 2-2.

The other three Tigers lost their opening sets, which seemed to put Ole Miss in the driver seat, but Memphis showed its toughness and all three responded with wins in the second set, two of which came in tiebreakers.

Alemany gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead from the top position with a 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 win before Rock earned another clincher from court three. The junior battled back from two tiebreakers to win 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(1).

Freshman Moritz Kudernatsch rounded out the scoring from court six with a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 decision to give Memphis the 5-2 victory.

"Conor did a great job of turning around a tough performance on Wednesday and then Pablo, Harry and Moritz all taking the second sets at the same time was amazing," Doerr said. "I am so incredibly proud of this team."

UP NEXT
Memphis hits the road next weekend for a pair of AAC matches in Tampa, Florida. The Tigers will face South Florida at 1:30 p.m. CT Friday and Florida Atlantic at 1:30 p.m. CT Saturday.

Memphis 5, Ole Miss 2
Singles competition
1. Pablo Alemany (MEM) def. Nikola Slavic (UM) 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2
2. Conor Gannon (MEM) def. John Hallquist Lithen (UM) 6-4, 6-4
3. Harry Rock (MEM) def. Isac Stromberg (UM) 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(1)
4. No. 123 Pau Fanlo (MEM) def. Lukas Engelhardt (UM) 7-6(1), 6-2
5. Brice Patoux (UM) def. Juan Zabala (MEM) 6-3, 7-5
6. Moritz Kudernatsch (MEM) def. Carson Baker (UM) 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Nikola Slavic / Lukas Engelhardt (UM) def. No. 38 Pablo Alemany / Charlie Barry 6-3
2. Conor Gannon / Harry Rock (MEM) def. Isac Stromberg / Brice Patoux (UM) 6-3
3. John Hallquist Lithen / Carson Baker (UM) def. Pau Fanlo / Sam Reeve 6-4

Order of Finish:
Doubles (1,2,3)
Singles (5,2,4,1,3)

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Tennis, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.