March 21, 2008
AUBURN - The No. 22-ranked Auburn men's tennis team defeated No. 34 Vanderbilt, 5-2, Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in a match that was closer than the score would indicate. The victory improved the Tigers' record to 9-6, including a 3-2 mark in the SEC, while Vanderbilt dropped to 9-5 and 1-4 in the conference.
"You can't get any closer than that match was," said head coach Eric Shore. "You have to give Vanderbilt credit. They fought back and battled to end, but we were fortunate enough to pull it out. We got off to good start in doubles and played well, but Vandy came back in singles and never quit."
Auburn won the doubles point for the 10th time this season and is 8-2 when winning the early point.
The No. 1 doubles team of Alexey Tsyrenov and Terence Nugent got Auburn off to a strong start with an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Vanderbilt's Ryan Preston and Evan Dufaux. At No. 3, the Tigers' Pawel Dilaj and Milan Krnjetin earned an 8-3 win over the Commodores' Vijay Paul and Adam Baker, clinching the point for Auburn.
Vanderbilt did earn one doubles victory, as Nick Cromydus and Bryant Salcedo defeated Tim Puetz and Lukas Marsoun, 8-7, with a 7-5 score in the tiebreaker.
As singles play began, Alex Zoltov gave Vanderbilt a lift with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Krnjetin at No. 6 to even the match at 1-1, but moments later, No. 114 Puetz put Auburn back in front by finishing a 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 101 Paul at No. 2.
The Tigers extended the team lead to 3-1 when Dilaj won at No. 4 against Dufaux, 6-3, 6-2.
Despite a 3-1 lead for Auburn, the match still was up for grabs as the last three contests were all tied at 5-5 in the third set at one point. But Alex Petropoulos rallied to score the last three points at No. 5 in a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Salcedo, clinching the match for Auburn.
Moments later, Vanderbilt's Cromydus finished off a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Marsoun at No. 3, and No. 35 Tsyrenov ended the day for Auburn with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) victory at No. 1 singles over No. 75 Preston.
"I think when you win one like that it helps your confidence," said Shore. "A lot of them are going to be like that, so you can't get too up or too down. You just have to go on to the next one, and we have another one on Sunday."
SEC play continues as Auburn goes on the road to face No. 63 Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Tennis Match Results
Vanderbilt vs Auburn
Mar 21, 2008 at Auburn, AL
#22 Auburn 5, #34 Vanderbilt 2
Singles competition
1. #35 Alexey Tsyrenov (AU) def. #75 Ryan Preston (VU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
2. #114 Tim Puetz (AU) def. #101 Vijay Paul (VU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Nick Cromydas (VU) def. Lukas Marsoun (AU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Pawel Dilaj (AU) def. Evan Dufaux (VU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Alex Petropoulos (AU) def. Bryant Salcedo (VU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Alex Zotov (VU) def. Milan Krnjetin (AU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Alexey Tsyrenov/Terence Nugent (AU) def. Ryan Preston/Evan Dufaux (VU) 8-3
2. Nick Cromydas/Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Tim Puetz/Lukas Marsoun (AU) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Pawel Dilaj/Milan Krnjetin (AU) def. Vijay Paul/Adam Baker (VU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 9-5 (1-4 SEC); National ranking #34
Auburn 9-6 (3-2 SEC); National ranking #22
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,4,5,3,1)
Official: Ken Smith T-3:58