Oct. 14, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn advanced four men in singles and a doubles team to the Round of 16 after first-day action Friday in the ITA Southern Regionals at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
After a first-round bye, senior Conner Huertas del Pino defeated Lucas Gonzalez (South Alabama) 6-2, 6-3; he will face LSU's Gabor Csonka Saturday morning.
Sophomore Olle Thestrup posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pablo Caffarena (Jackson State) and then defeated Spencer Richey (Alabama) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Thestrup's next opponent is Sebastian Rey (Tulane).
Freshman Carles Sarrio advanced to the Round of 32 with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Pierre Noyon (South Alabama). Sarrio will face Nicolas Braun (Mississippi State) Saturday morning.
Sophomore Brandon Laubser also advanced with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 come-from-behind win over Troy's Mustapha Belcora. Laubser's next opponent is Filip Kraljevic of Ole Miss.
In doubles, Auburn's tandem of Conner Huertas del Pino and Edward Nguyenadvanced to the Round of 16 with 8-3 wins over Max Sinn and Sasha Prodgursky (Nicholls State) and Justin Butsch and Rafael Wagner (LSU). Their next opponent is Pablo Moreno and Andy Lau of Troy.
Play resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. with doubles action; go to www.AuburnTigers.com for bracket information and match times. Matches on the main six courts will be livestreamed online.
The singles and doubles champions advance to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., in November.