Feb. 26, 2015
Results vs. South Carolina
AUBURN, Ala. - The 28th-ranked Auburn men's tennis team won its first SEC match of the 2015 season on Thursday, defeating No. 34 South Carolina 4-2 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"It was a nail-biter there at the end, but every conference match is like that," Auburn head coach Eric Shore said. "I told the guys that is what you have to expect every time you go out. It went our way today. It is a long season with a lot of tough matches ahead. Our guys fought hard today and that is all you can ask."
After dropping the first doubles match of the day, Lukas Ollert and Joseph Van Dooren defeated 44th-ranked Harrison O'Keefe and Thomas Mayronne in the two spot.
Marko Krickovic and Oliver Plaskett then clinched the doubles point for Auburn, taking down Kyle Koch and Thiago Penheiro 7-5 on court one.
"Marko Krickovic stepped up big time in doubles. He was the man in doubles today. He stepped up and played some huge tennis for us."
Lukas Ollert won Auburn's first singles match in SEC play, topping Kyle Koch 6-2, 6-4. Maxime Hinnisdaels added a win on court three, defeating Thiago Pinheiro 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Oliver Plaskett clinched the victory for the Tigers in the six spot in a second set tie-breaker, defeating Thomas Mayronne 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
"Oliver Plaskett is starting to figure it out and put it together. That is encouraging. He has a long way to go, but that helps. I feel like we are in the battle there now."
Auburn is now 11-2 on the season, while South Carolina falls to 8-6. The Tigers' next match is Saturday against No. 7 Georgia. The match begins at 1 p.m. at the Yarbrough Tennis Center and admission is free.
For more information on Auburn Men's Tennis, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter, @AuburnMTennis or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnMTennis.
#28 Auburn 4, #34 South Carolina 2
Singles competition
1. Lukas Ollert (AU) def. Kyle Koch (USC) 6-2, 6-4
2. Marko Krickovic (AU) vs. Andrew Adams (USC) 6-2, 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
3. Maxime Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Thiago Pinheiro (USC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
4. Andrew Schafer (USC) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Harrison O'Keefe (USC) def. Joseph Van Dooren (AU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Oliver Plaskett (AU) def. Thomas Mayronne (USC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. Marko Krickovic/Oliver Plaskett (AU) def. Kyle Koch/Thiago Pinheiro (USC) 7-5
2. Lukas Ollert/Joseph Van Dooren (AU) def. Harrison O'Keefe/Thomas Mayronne (USC) 6-4
3. Andrew Schafer/Andrew Adams (USC) def. Maxime Hinnisdaels/Dante Saleh (AU) 6-3
Match Notes:
South Carolina 8-6 (0-1 SEC); National ranking #34
Auburn 11-2 (1-0 SEC); National ranking #28
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,4,3,6)
Played indoors
Official: Chris Rodger T-3:13