No. 22 Kentucky Falls at No. 25 Ole Miss, 4-3
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 22 Kentucky (16-12, 5-9 SEC) fell to No. 25 Ole Miss (18-8, 6-8 SEC) in a tight, 4-3 contest on Sunday evening. The Wildcats turned a 3-0 deficit into a 3-3 deadlock but ultimately dropped the decision in the regular season finale.
The match marked the seventh time this season that Kentucky has played to 4-3, going 2-5 in those contests. The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 6-9 record against top 25 opponents.
Ole Miss opened the match by taking a tight doubles point. On court two, Stefano D’Agostino and Pietro Pampanin earned a 6-4 win over Martin Breysach and Jaden Weekes. The Wildcat pair fought back from an early deficit to even things at 4-4 but failed to serve to stay in the match in the tenth game.
On court one, the All-American duo of No. 16 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson earned their ninth ranked win of the year, defeating No. 25 Isac Stromberg and Kai Milburn in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4). The two sides held serve for the entire match, with the Wildcats surging to an early 5-1 lead in the decider to ultimately even things up.
The Rebels would clinch the point on court three, as Matthieu Chambonniere and Benjamin Martin defeated Charlelie Cosnet and Nicolas Arseneault in a tiebreaker. After eight consecutive holds of serve, the Rebel duo earned the first break of the match and had the chance to serve it out. However, Cosnet and Arseneault fought back for the break to even things at 5-5. After a service hold, the Wildcat pair had a match point returning at deuce point at 6-5 but could not convert. In the decider, Ole Miss raced to a 6-2 lead that they would put away on their third match point.
In singles play, the Wildcats were able to find good footing on four of the six courts. However, Ole Miss raced to quick wins on the other two, pushing their advantage to 3-0. Vlado Jankanj defeated No. 97 Cosnet on court four, 6-0, 6-4. Noah Schlagenhauf knocked Mikael Arseneault, 6-2, 6-4, on court five.
With first sets secured on courts one, two, three, and six, the Wildcats were still in contention for the dual. However, Ole Miss was able to force third sets on all four courts.
No. 80 Nicolas Arseneault earned his second ranked singles win of the weekend on court two to put the Wildcats on the board. The freshman sealed the first set with the only break of the frame in the tenth game and was on a similar path in the second. However, No. 117 Chambonniere broke Arseneault to secure a 5-4 lead and fought off multiple break points to seal the set. In the third, Arseneault found an early break for the first time in the match and kept his cool, serving out the 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win on his first and only chance.
Minutes later, No. 20 Stephenson secured the Cats’ second ranked singles win of the day to narrow the margin to 3-2. After dropping serve in the opening game of the match against No. 79 D’Agostino, the Louisville native raced to six of the next eight games to take the opener. Despite falling behind a break twice in the second, Stephenson broke back immediately both times to keep the frame on level footing. However, after a string of holds from both players, D’Agostino was able to break in the twelfth game to force a third. In the decider, Stephenson buckled down to win the final five games of the match a deliver his 14th ranked win of the year, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
The Wildcats were able to even things up on court six as Matt Rankin secured a three-set win over Loan Lestir. Rankin raced out to an early lead in the opening frame and, despite being broken when serving for the set, rallied to immediately break back and serve out the set win on his next try. In the second, one break made the difference as Lestir was able to even the match up. However, Rankin raced out to a 5-0, triple break lead that would ultimately hold up, despite a furious challenge. On his third attempt to serve out the win, Rankin sealed the 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win.
With the match coming down to court three, No. 78 Loutit and Pampanin would decide things in the match. Loutit was in good shape for much of the match, cruising to a 6-3 win in the opener and holding a break advantage for the better part of the second. However, despite holding a 5-3 lead and having the chance to serve things out, Loutit would not be able to hold on and clinch the victory. Pampanin would go on to win 10 of the final 12 games of the match and give Ole Miss the win with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 come-from-behind victory.
The Wildcats will open up postseason play at the 2026 SEC Men’s Tennis Championship at Texas A&M from April 15-19. A full bracket will be released following the conclusion of all league matches later tonight.
For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.
No. 22 Kentucky vs. No. 25 Ole Miss
Doubles Results
- No. 16 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) def. No. 25 Stromberg/Milburn (OM) 7-6 (4)
- D’Agostino/Pampanin (OM) def. Breysach/Weekes (UK) 6-4
- Chambonniere/Martin (OM) def. Cosnet/N. Arseneault (UK) 7-6 (4)
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles Results
- No. 20 Eli Stephenson (UK) def. No. 79 Stefano D’Agostino (OM) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
- No. 80 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. No. 117 Matthieu Chambonniere (OM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
- Pietro Pampanin (OM) def. No. 78 Jack Loutit (UK) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
- Vlado Jankanj (OM) def. No. 97 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-0, 6-4
- Noah Schlagenhauf (OM) def. Mikael Arseneault (UK) 6-2, 6-4
- Matt Rankin (UK) def. Loan Lestir (OM) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 5, 2, 1, 6, 3
