April 15, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - No. 63 Auburn dominated Tennessee Friday evening indoors at the Yarbrough Tennis Center, posting a 6-1 SEC win over the Volunteers.
"I thought we came out ready to play, starting with doubles," Auburn head coach Eric Shore said. "We continued that in singles. We needed a night where we put it all together and we did. Now we need to get ready for a big day Sunday against Kentucky."
Auburn quickly captured the doubles point using some different combinations. Max Hinnisdaels and Brandon Laubser, playing their first match together of the spring, posted a 6-4 victory over Jack Heslin and Igor Smelyanski on court two. Just a few minutes later on court one, Marko Krickovic and Edward Nguyen, paired together for the first time since early March, gained a 6-4 win over Jack Schipanski and Luis Valero to clinch the doubles point for the Tigers.
The Tigers took the first set in all six singles matches. Dante Saleh was the first to finish, winning 6-1, 6-0 over Jack Schipanski on court four. Olle Thestrup defeated Sunay Bhat 6-3, 6-3 on court six, and Max Hinnisdaels clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Timo Stodder on court two.
Brandon Laubser and Marko Krickovic claimed singles wins after the team victory was clinched.
Auburn is now 12-12 (2-9 SEC) and ranked No. 63 nationally as a team. Tennessee is 11-15 overall and 0-11 in the SEC.
On Saturday, the Tigers will host a free kids' instructional clinic at 10 a.m. at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Kids in eighth grade or younger can work with the Tigers to get an introduction to tennis or to improve their game. Walk-ups are welcome, or to pre-register, email markets@auburn.edu. Participants should bring a racquet if possible.
Sunday, the Tigers host No. 20 Kentucky (17-7 overall, 6-4 SEC) on Senior Day at 1 p.m. as coaches and teammates thank seniors Marko Krickovic and Joseph Van Dooren for their contributions to the Tiger tennis program. That will be the final regular season match before SEC tournament play begins Wednesday, April 20, at South Carolina.
Sunday, fans can receive free t-shirts, koozies and pizza while supplies last. All home matches are played at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (771 Yarbrough Farms Blvd., Auburn) and admission is free.
Auburn 6, Tennessee 1
Singles
Marko Krickovic (AU) def. Luis Valero (UT) 6-1, 3-4 retired
Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Timo Stodder (UT) 6-4, 6-1
Srdjan Jakovljevic (UT) def. Conner Huertas del Pino (AU), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3)
Dante Saleh (AU) def. Jack Schipanski (UT) 6-1, 6-0
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Jack Heslin (UT) 6-4, 6-3
Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Sunay Bhat (UT) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
Marko Krickovic/Edward Nguyen (AU) def. Jack Schipanski/Luis Valero (UT) 6-4
Max Hinnisdaels/Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Jack Heslin/Igor Smelyanski (UT) 6-4
Conner Huertas del Pino/Dante Saleh (AU) vs. Timo Stodder/Srdjan Jakovljevic (UT) 4-5 unfinished
Length of match: 1:57; Official: Chris Rodger; Order of finish: Doubles: 2,1; Singles: 4,6,2,1,5,3; Played indoors