April 3, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 55 Auburn men's tennis team went down to the last match before No. 43 Vanderbilt captured a 4-3 SEC victory Sunday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Auburn got singles wins in three sets from junior Max Hinnisdaels on court two (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) and from freshman Brandon Laubser on court five (6-3, 3-6, 6-1), and a straight set 7-6, 6-4 win by Conner Huertas del Pino on court four after winning his first set tiebreaker 7-4.
Despite a 6-4 win by Huertas del Pino and Dante Saleh on court two in doubles, Vanderbilt captured the doubles point with a 7-6 (5) tiebreaker win by Rhys Johnson and Cameron Klinger over Hinnisdaels and Marko Krickovic on court one.
With the match tied 3-3, Krickovic and Johnson went to a third set on court one in the deciding singles match. Krickovic had won the first set 6-1 but Johnson had tied the match 6-4 in the second. The third set stayed tied through 3-3 before Johnson closed it off with a 6-3 victory to give Vanderbilt the team match win.
"We're right there in doubles -- it's just finding ways to win the point - but there are a lot of positives in our play today," said Auburn head coach Eric Shore. "Our second doubles and several singles matches were strong. We're moving in the right direction. It's just a matter of sticking together and taking advantage of the good chances up ahead."
Auburn is now 11-10 and ranked No. 55 nationally. Vanderbilt is 13-10 overall and 4-4 in SEC play.
The Tigers are in action again Friday at No. 59 South Carolina, beginning the final two weeks of SEC regular season play.
Vanderbilt 4, Auburn 3
Singles
Daniel Valent (VU) def. Marko Krickovic (AU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Rhys Johnson (VU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Cameron Klinger (VU) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 6-4, 7-5
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Baker Newman (VU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Kris Yee (VU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Alex Ross (VU) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
Rhys Johnson/Cameron Klinger (VU) def. Marko Krickovic/Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 7-6 (7-5)
Conner Huertas del Pino/Dante Saleh (AU) def. Tate Allwardt/Baker Newman (VU) 6-4
Daniel Valent/Pen Binet (VU) def. Brandon Laubser/Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-1
Time of match: 3:22; Official: Chris Rodger; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,2,1; Singles: 3,6,2,4,5,1