Butler's 2017 season ended Thursday as the Bulldogs' doubles team of Mikheil Khmiadashvili and Mason Dragos lost in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Doubles Championships.

Mississippi's tandem of Fabian Fallert and Grey Hamilton defeated the Bulldogs, 6-4, 6-3. Fallert and Hamilton entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 19 nationally. The match was played at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.

The NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Subcommittee selected 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams to compete in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships. This is believed to be the first Butler singles or doubles selection to the championships.

Butler took a 4-3 lead in the first set before Ole Miss held serve to level the score. Following a break, the Rebels were able to serve out the first set. Ole Miss used an early break in the second set to give the team some breathing room en route to the 6-3 deciding set win.

Khmiadashvili and Dragos are currently ranked No. 60 nationally in the most recent ITA rankings. The duo is now 12-4 on the season, including 8-2 at the No. 1 position this spring.

The NCAA Doubles Championship appearance caps a spectacular 2017 campaign for the Bulldogs, who won the BIG EAST title and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Butler fell to No. 3 overall seed Ohio State in the first round. Khmiadashvili, the BIG EAST Championships Most Outstanding Player and BIG EAST Player of the Year, and Dragos were then selected to the NCAA doubles competition.

Thursday's match was the final one at Butler for Khmiadashvili, who recently graduated. Dragos will return for his junior campaign under coach Parker Ross.