09/08/2012

ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Jonas Lutjen of the Ole Miss men's tennis team won twice Saturday to reach the quarterfinals of the Division I singles at the Southern Intercollegiates at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, while redshirt freshman Zach Wilder reached the semifinals of Division II.

Lutjen dropped only five games in two matches.  In the second round, he downed Jordi Vives of Florida Gulf Coast University 6-2, 6-2 and then he dominated Georgia Tech's Eduardo Segura 6-0, 6-1.  Lutjen will face Georgia's Nathan Pasha in the quarterfinals Sunday at 10 a.m.

Wilder, playing in his first tournament as a Rebel, has won three matches to move into the semifinals of the Division II Singles.  The Oxford native defeated Alejandro Augusto of Tennessee Tech 6-3, 7-6(4) in the second round and then topped Dean Tsamas of FGCU 7-5, 6-4.   Wilder will face Jaan Kononov of Armstrong Atlantic in the semifinals Sunday at 10 a.m.

Junior Johan Backstrom won an exciting three-setter against Mississippi State's James Chaudry, ranked No. 41 in the nation, in the second round.  After the two split sets, Backstrom got the early break to take the match 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.   Feeling the effects of a long match, Backstrom dropped his third round match to Florida's Michael Alford (9-16) 6-2, 6-2.

In other singles action, senior Adrian Forberg Skogeng lost to Florent Diep, 6-3, 6-2 in his second round match.  Sophomore William Kallberg did not play his second round match after turning his ankle on Friday in the doubles.

"This early in the season, we don't want to risk anything," head coach Billy Chadwick said.  "Jonas is playing well. Sunday will be a battle, because Pasha is playing some good tennis as well.  Hats off to Zach Wilder. He is having a good tournament for his first one, and you can see him getting better with each match."

Due to rain the round of 16 doubles (both divisions) were moved to 8:30 Sunday morning.  Ole Miss has two teams still in it.  Wilder and Adrian Forberg Skogeng and Lutjen and Backstrom.

Southern Intercollegiates - ATHENS, Ga.
Division I Singles
Second round - Jonas Lutjen (OM) def. Jordi Vives (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2; Johan Backstrom (OM) def. James Chaudry (MSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Florent Diep (UF) def. Adrian Forberg Skogeng (OM) 6-3, 6-2.  Round of 16 - Lutjen (OM) def. Eduardo Segura (GT) 6-0, 6-1; Michael Alford (UF) def. Backstrom (OM) 6-2, 6-2.
Division II Singles
Round of 16 - Zach Wilder (OM) def. Alejandro Augusto (TT) 6-3, 7-6(4).  Quarterfinals - Wilder (OM) def. Dean Tsamas (FGCU) 7-5, 6-4.