STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The No. 3 nationally ranked Ole Miss men’s tennis team downed Mississippi State 6-1 Saturday to clinch the SEC Championship to themselves and conclude a perfect 11-0 record in the SEC.  It marks the fifth overall league title in the history of the program and the second time to go undefeated in conference.

This year’s team joins the 1996 squad with a perfect conference record.  It is a significant accomplishment with four SEC teams in the top 10, five in the top 12 and seven in the top 25. 

With five overall SEC titles to his resume’ head coach Billy Chadwick now trails only legendary football coach John Vaught in SEC Championships won.  Vaught led the Rebels to six SEC titles during his illustrious career.

“I am extremely proud of every person on this team and all the coaches,” Chadwick said.  “With as tough as the league has been this year, to go undefeated in the SEC is an outstanding accomplishment.  We had tremendous leadership from the seniors, excellent leadership from the upperclassmen and a great effort from the freshmen.”

Ole Miss got things going their way early by taking the all-important doubles point. From there, the Rebels never looked back on their way to winning their 23rd straight against Mississippi State.

Devin Britton and Tucker Vorster downed Antonio Lastre and Daniel Sanchez 8-3 at No. 2 doubles, and then the nation’s top-ranked duo of Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge defeated Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump 8-6 at No. 1 to clinch the point.

The Rebels carried the momentum over to singles, winning five of the first sets.  Kalle Norberg gave Ole Miss a 2-0 lead when his opponent, Louis Cant, retired down 6-1, 3-0.  Norberg became the fourth Rebel to go undefeated in the SEC at 9-0. He joins former All-American Johan Hede, All-SEC performer Paul Ciorascu and teammate Jonas Berg to accomplish the feat.

Berg, ranked No. 15 in the nation, put the Rebels within one of the win with an impressive performance at No. 1, downing Artem Ilyushin 6-2, 6-1. 

Senior Bram ten Berge began his career winning an SEC Championship on these same courts in 2005 and now four years later, he topped MSU’s Sanchez 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles, to cinch the SEC title.

“I have great memories from both times,” ten Berge said.  “It’s been a while since we won the SEC.  To do it at the same place as last time is a little ironic.  Today’s match was good for us.  Doubles wasn’t the best, but we got through it.  Most of the guys took care of business in singles.  There’s more on the line with the rivalry, because the whole atmosphere is exciting with the fans.

“Before the season you’re not thinking about records and going undefeated.  We were trying to win the SEC first.  To go 11-0, I know I didn’t see that coming, and I don’t think anyone did.  It’s an amazing feat with so many teams in this league in the top 25.”

Britton defeated fellow Mississippian Ryan Farlow 6-1, 7-5 at No. 2 and then freshman Marcel Thiemann won his match 7-5, 6-2 at No. 6 to finish out the scoring.

The Rebels are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament and are the only team in the league to finish no lower than second overall since 2003. 

DOUBLES

1. Berg/ten Berge (OM) def. Doerr/Stump (MSU) 8-6

2. Britton/Tucker Vorster (OM) def. Lastere/Sanchez (MSU) 8-3

3. Norberg/Sauer (OM) vs. Farlow/Ilyushin (MSU) 6-7, sus.

Order of Finish: 2, 1

SINGLES

1. Jonas Berg (OM) def. Artem Ilyushin (MSU) 6-2, 6-1

2. Devin Britton (OM) def. Ryan Farlow (MSU) 6-1, 7-5

3. Kalle Norberg (OM) def. Louis Cant (MSU) 6-1, 3-0, ret.

4. Bram ten Berge (OM) def. Daniel Sanchez (MSU) 6-3, 6-3

5. Antonio Lastre (MSU) def. Otto Sauer (OM) 6-4, 4-6, 10-7

6. Marcel Thiemann (OM) def. Chris Doerr (MSU) 7-5, 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 2, 6, 5