CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Ole Miss men’s tennis team closed out a difficult weekend of action at the ITA Kickoff weekend in Cambridge with the Rebels dropping its match versus UCLA, 4-2, in the consolation match.
 
Despite the loss, John Hallquist Lithen spearheaded the way for the Rebels by helping clinch the doubles point with partner, Carson Baker, in the tiebreaker, 7-6 (5). He also earned the lone singles point of the day for the Rebels after coming from behind and securing the 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
 
To open the morning up, the Rebels took the courts for doubles against the Bruins looking to set the tone early. UCLA started strong by securing the 6-2 victory on court two, but Ole Miss refused to give up. No. 1 doubles partners Nikola Slavic and Lukas Engelhardt fought their way to a 7-5 victory to put the Rebels a win away from clinching the match’s doubles point.
 
After the Bruins forced the match into a tiebreaker, Lithen and Baker got the job done for the Rebels earning a the win after a monster ace by Baker. Ole Miss remains perfect in clinching the doubles point, after the No. 3 doubles duo secured the sixth point of the spring.
 
Although the Rebels got the early advantage, the Bruins rallied back and were able to win four singles matches. Engelhardt fell to Spencer Johnson, 6-4, 6-1, before Patoux dropped his match 1-6, 6-0, 6-4. Isac Stromberg clashed with Alexander Hoogmartens, going back and forth in each game, but ultimately lost, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
 
At this point Lithen tacked on another point for the Rebels, but it was not enough as Emon Van Loben Sels defeated Baker on court six, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. No. 99 Slavic’s match against Govind Nanda went unfinished on court one.
 
Up Next
The Rebels will return to Oxford and have a two week break before facing a test on Saturday, February 10 when the Rebels play host to No. 22 ranked Memphis at 5 p.m. CT at the William F. Galtney Indoor Tennis Center. 
 
Rebels on Social
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, UCLA 4
Singles
1. #99 Nikola Slavic (OM) vs. Govind Nanda (UCLA) 7-5, 5-7, 3-3 unfinished
2. J. Hallquist Lithen (OM) def. Revelli Giacomo (UCLA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. Isac Stromberg (OM) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Spencer Johnson (UCLA) def. Lukas Engelhardt (OM) 6-4, 6-1
5. Jorge Plans Gonzalez (UCLA) def. Brice Patoux (OM) 1-6, 6-0, 6-4
6. Emon van Loven Sels (UCLA) def. Carson Baker (OM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Nikola Slavic/Lukas Engelhardt (OM) def. Timothy Li/Giacomo Revelli (UCLA) 7-5
2. Spencer Johnson/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Walker Stearns/Brice Patoux (OM) 6-2
3. J. Hallquist Lithen/Carson Baker (OM) def. Govind Nanda/ Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) 7-6 (5)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,5,3,2,6)