March 28, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 52 Auburn men's tennis team took the doubles point, but No. 25 Mississippi State prevailed 4-2 at home Monday at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville.
In doubles, Marko Krickovic and Max Hinnisdaels posted a 6-3 win on court one over the Bulldogs' top tandem of Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter, but MSU was the winner on court three, setting up a deciding match on court two between Dante Saleh and Conner Huertas del Pino of Auburn against Nuno Borgas and Niclas Braun of MSU. That contest went to a tiebreaker, with Auburn prevailing 7-5 to win the match 7-6 and clinch the doubles point for the Tigers.
Auburn got a singles win at the top spot from Krickovic, who defeated Mate Cutura, ranked No. 22 nationally, by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 score. Olle Thestrup on court six and Conner Huertas del Pino on court four also forced three sets in their matches. Thestrup lost his third set 7-6 to Luka Sucevic in a 7-5 tiebreaker. Huertas del Pino's match was not concluded.
Auburn is now 9-9 and ranked No. 52 nationally; Mississippi State is 13-5 overall and 5-3 in SEC action.
Auburn returns home this weekend. Auburn will entertain Alabama A&M in a non-conference contest Saturday at 5 p.m. The Tigers return to SEC play Sunday hosting No. 49 Vanderbilt at 1 p.m. All home matches are played at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (771 Yarbrough Farms Blvd., Auburn) and admission is free.
Mississippi State 4, Auburn 2
Singles
Marko Krickovic (AU) def. Mate Cutura (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Rishab Agarwal (MSU) def. Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 6-0, 6-0
Nuno Borgas (MSU) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 6-3, 6-0
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) vs. Niclas Braun (MSU) 4-6, 7-6 (10-8) unfinished
Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Brandon Laubser (AU) 7-6 (10-8), 6-0
Luka Sucevic (MSU) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles
Marko Krickovic/Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) 6-3
Dante Saleh/Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Nuno Borgas/Niclas Braun (MSU) 7-6 (7-5)
Rishab Agarwal/Luka Sucevic (MSU) def. Brandon Laubser/Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-4
Length of match: 3:20; Order of finish: Doubles: 1,3,2; Singles: 2,3,5,1,6