BOSTON, Mass. – Despite some tightly contested matchups, Ole Miss men’s tennis (4-1) was unable to take down their ITA Kickoff opening round opponent in Northwestern (1-3) with the Rebels falling, 4-2.
 
Several matches for the Rebels proved to be back-and-forth contests that were decided in the latter half of each set, but ultimately it was the Wildcats that would prevail to advance to the second round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend to take on Harvard.
 
Leading the charge on the day for the Rebels was Nikola Slavic, as the senior won his doubles matchup and secured the lone singles match win of the day at the No. 1 spot.
 
To commence doubles, Slavic hit a dagger ace to clinch the 6-3 victory against Gleb Blekher and Felix Nordby with partner, Lukas Engelhardt. In singles, Slavic matched up against Northwestern’s Blekher once again, as he earned hard fought 6-4, 6-3 set wins. He now sits at a perfect 5-0 in dual singles and 3-0 in dual doubles playing each of his matches in the No. 1 slot.
 
The Rebels opened the match with the advantage after the tandem of John Hallquist Lithen and Carson Baker got the job done in doubles for the Rebels by defeating their opponents, 6-4, to clinch the first point for Ole Miss.
 
Although Brice Patoux dropped his first set, 6-1, in singles he fought back in the second, but wasn’t quite able to secure the victory. It was here that Slavic chalked one up for the Rebels, earning the lone Rebel singles victory of the day. 
 
Not long after though, Stromberg and Engelhardt dropped their respective matches on courts three and four. Lithen battled it out with Presley Thieneman on court two, forcing the first set to go to a tiebreaker, but ultimately dropped his match, 7-6, 6-2.
 
Up Next
The Rebels will now take on UCLA in Sunday’s consolation match that is set to begin at 9 a.m. CT at the Harvard Recreational Tennis Center.
 
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For more information on Ole Miss Men’s Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
 
Ole Miss 2, Northwestern 4
 Singles
1. #99 Nikola Slavic (OM) def. Gleb Blekher (NW) 6-4, 6-3
2. Presley Thieneman (NW) def. J. Hallquist Lithen (OM) 7-6 (4), 6-2
3. Saiprakash Goli (NW) def. Isac Stromberg (OM) 6-3, 6-4
4. Felix Nordby (NW) def. Lukas Engelhardt (OM) 6-2, 6-4
5. Greyson Casey (NW) def. Brice Patoux (OM) 6-1, 7-6 (3)
6. Carson Baker (OM) vs. Chad Miller (NW) 7-6 (4), 3-4, unfinished
 
Doubles
1. Nikola Slavic/Lukas Engelhardt (OM) def. Gleb Blekher/Felix Nordby (NW) 6-3
2. Isac Stromberg/Brice Patoux (OM) vs. Presley Thieneman/Greyson Casey (NW) 4-5, unfinished
3. J. Hallquist Lithen/Carson Baker (OM) def. Chad Miller/Jackson Caldwell (NW) 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1.3); Singles (5, 1, 4, 3, 2)