No. 4 Rebels have too much depth for Vols, win 4-3

The University of Tennessee men's tennis team had plenty of resolve Friday afternoon against fourth-ranked Mississippi.

Unfortunately for them, they did not have quite enough depth and the Rebels prevailed, 4-3.

"They are a great team," said second-year UT coach Sam Winterbotham. "They have a legitimate shot to win the national championship. But I am proud of our guys."

The match, which lasted five and a half hours after being forced indoors by rain at the four-court Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center, also was long on excitement.

After Ole Miss won the doubles point when Tennessee's No. 1 team of Kaden Hensel and J.P. Smith were the only Vol winners, three of the six singles matches went to three sets.

An uplifting win for Tennessee in singles came from Boris Conkic at No. 3, who defeated senior Robbye Poole, the highest-ranked Rebel player.

Conkic - who prevailed 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) and was the first Vol to complete his match - said he had succeeded by being patient.

"The first set I played really well," he said. "I was in control the whole time. In the second set, it was closer, but I played better on the important points."

Also winning for Tennessee (10-1) was No. 4 player Davey Sandgren, who lost the first set to Bram ten Berge but won the last two, 6-4, 6-2.

The sophomore from Gallatin, Tenn., said he started using his mind to keep from having to use his feet so much.

"I wanted to play more with my forehand to his backhand," he said.

After Tennessee's Hensel and Smith lost at Nos. 1 and 2 singles to Matthias Wellerman and Erling Tveit, respectively, Ole Miss led 3-2 in team points as the Nos. 5 and 6 singles matches were just beginning.

The Rebels (8-2) clinched the victory when No. 6 player Kalle Norberg defeated Jeremy Tweedt, 6-3, 7-5, after trailing in the second set.

Matteo Fago of the Vols did come back to win the last two sets against Jonas Berg at No. 5 after the team competition had been decided.

Although disappointed, Winterbotham admitted he was pleased the four Vol freshmen - Smith, Conkic, Fago and Tweedt - played well against the mostly upperclass Rebels.

" What we proved is that these guys can compete," he said. "It is exciting for the future."

The Vols, ranked No. 14 in the latest poll, play host to Mississippi State at 1 p.m. Sunday.