Feb. 5, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" No. 56 Auburn used a tiebreaker win in doubles to propel the Tigers to a 6-1 victory over No. 68 Troy in men's tennis Friday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
At number one doubles, Marko Krickovic and Edward Nguyen captured a back-and-forth 10-8 tiebreaker to post a 7-6 win and capture the doubles point for Auburn.
Conner Huertas del Pino and Brandon Laubser were 6-3 winners on court two, but the other two doubles matches went to tiebreakers, with Troy winning an 8-4 tiebreaker at number three over previously undefeated Max Hinnisdaels and Olle Thestrup.
"We knew it was going to be a tough match, and I thought we competed hard, especially winning the tiebreaker in doubles," said Auburn head coach Eric Shore. "That definitely gave us some momentum going into singles and we were able to get it done when we needed to.
"We knew how good Troy was and we knew it was going to be tough. We're going to have to be more even and cut down on our sloppiness, but I'm very pleased to get this win."
In singles, 96th-ranked Marko Krickovic remained undefeated on the spring season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Vaclav Slezak on court one, and Olle Thestrup was a 6-1, 6-0 winner on court six over Troy's Hassan Ndayishimiya.
Conner Huertas del Pino clinched the match for Auburn with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Andy Lau of Troy at number three. On court four, Dante Saleh added another point for Auburn with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Giovani Samaha. No. 100 Max Hinnisdaels finished the day's action with a three-set win over Daniel Bustamente on court two 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
The Tigers are now 4-1 on the season, while Troy drops to 1-7.
Auburn goes to No. 44 Georgia Tech next Friday and plays at Clemson next Sunday. The Tigers' next home matches are Friday, February 19, vs. Mercer at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. All home matches are played at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (771 Yarbrough Farms Blvd., Auburn) and admission is free.
Auburn 6, Troy 1
Singles
Marko Krickovic (AUB) def. Vaclav Slezak (TROY) 6-2, 6-2
Max Hinnisdaels (AUB) def. Daniel Bustamante (TROY) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Conner Huertas del Pino (AUB) def. Andy Lau (TROY) 6-3, 6-2
Dante Saleh (AUB) def. Giovani Samaha (TROY) 6-4, 6-3
Pablo Moreno (TROY) def. Brandon Laubser (AUB) 7-5, 7-5
Olle Thestrup (AUB) def. Hassan Ndayishimiye (TROY) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
Marko Krickovic/Edward Nguyen (AUB) def. Andy Lau/Pablo Moreno (TROY) 7-6 (10-8)
Conner Huertas del Pino/Brandon Laubser (AUB) def. Giovani Samaha/Filip Mansson (TROY) 6-3
Andre Baldo/Vaclav Slezak (TROY) def. Max Hinnisdaels/Olle Thestrup (AUB) 7-6 (8-4)
Length of match: 2:29; Official: Chris Rodger; Order of finish: Doubles 2,3,1; Singles 6,1,3,4,5,2