OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 The Palmer\/Salloum Tennis Center is the place to be starting Friday, as the No. 9 nationally ranked Ole Miss men\u2019s tennis team kicks off its \u201cSpring Break Slam\u201d hosting No. 7 Georgia at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
The Rebels will play five matches in 10 days at the tennis center, four against teams in the current top 20.<\/p>\n
Fans will enjoy free pizza between doubles and singles at Friday\u2019s match, and earn double Rebel Rewards points. Fans can also take home a collector poster of sophomore Nik Scholtz.<\/p>\n
The Rebels, winners of five in a row, are coming off a successful opening weekend of conference play, with back-to-back 4-3 wins over Alabama and Auburn on the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cSEC road games are always so tough, and I was really proud of the guys,\u201d head coach Billy Chadwick said. \u201cWe won those matches because we fought as hard as we could from top to bottom. That was the key to our success.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the Rebels will welcome No. 10 Tennessee for a 1 p.m. match. There will be a hot dog cookout for all fans between doubles and singles.<\/p>\n
Georgia comes into Friday\u2019s match 8-3 on the season after a decisive 4-1 victory over No. 8 Tennessee in their SEC opener. The Bulldogs currently have four players ranked in the ITA top 125. Senior Ku Singh is ranked No. 11; sophomore Nathan Pasha is ranked No. 42. Junior Hernus Pieters is ranked No. 72 and Freshman Ben Wagland is ranked No. 95. In doubles, Wagland and Pieters are ranked No. 6.<\/p>\n
Tennessee comes into Sunday\u2019s match 12-4 and 0-1 in the SEC, after the loss to Georgia and a sweep against Georgia Tech. The Vols have three players in the ITA top 125. Sophomore Mikelis Libietis is ranked No. 13, sophomore Hunter Reese is No. 33, and sophomore Brandon Fickey is No. 76.<\/p>\n
\u201cTennessee and Georgia are always two of the top teams in the conference, and this year is no exception,\u201d Chadwick said. \u201cWe will have to be at our best. I feel like we are getting better with every match. The three tough matches that we had last week are going to help us in our preparation for this tough weekend coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chadwick would like to see a big crowd come out this weekend to support the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is spring break, but anybody that\u2019s here in town, we want to encourage them to come out and see some exciting tennis. These next 10 days could be really big for Ole Miss tennis and our standing in the conference.<\/p>\n
Admission to all matches is free.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SPRING BREAK SLAM SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
Friday, March 8 \u2013 No. 7 Georgia, 2 PM<\/p>\n
Free Pizza between doubles and singles<\/p>\n
Double Rebel Rewards points<\/p>\n
Nik Scholtz Collector poster<\/p>\n
Sunday, March 10 \u2013 No. 10 Tennessee, 1 PM<\/p>\n
Free hot dog cookout between doubles and singles<\/p>\n
Thursday, March 14 \u2013 Baylor, 1 PM<\/p>\n
Ice Cream social between doubles and singles<\/p>\n
Friday, March 15 \u2013 No. 5 Kentucky, 1 PM<\/p>\n
\u201cPopped Collar Day\u201d to honor Head Coach Billy Chadwick<\/p>\n
Anyone wearing their collar \u201cpopped\u201d will receive free POPcorn and sodaPOP<\/p>\n
Fans can participate in POP culture trivia between doubles and singles<\/p>\n
Johan Backstrom Collector poster<\/p>\n
Sunday, March 17 \u2013 No. 19 Vanderbilt, 1 PM<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. Patty\u2019s Day\u201d Fans receive \u201cKiss me I\u2019m a Rebel\u201d buttons and green beads<\/p>\n
T-shirt toss at the break<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"