March 25, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 52 Auburn men's tennis team took four singles matches to three sets, but No. 41 Alabama prevailed on its home courts by a 4-3 score Friday afternoon at the Alabama Tennis Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama captured the doubles point. Brandon Laubser and Olle Thestrup were defeated 6-3 on court two, but the other two matches were tied 5-5 before Alabama took a 7-5 win over Dante Saleh and Conner Huertas del Pino on court three to clinch the point. Marko Krickovic and Max Hinnisdaels were leading the nation's No. 17 doubles team, Korey Lovell and Mazen Osama, by a 6-5 score when the doubles point was decided.
Max Hinnisdaels (6-3 at #2) and Conner Huertas del Pino (6-4 at #4) both won their first sets in singles, but Alabama was able to clinch the match by winning three of the first four singles contests decided.
Junior Dante Saleh picked up the 50th singles win of his Auburn career with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Becker O'Shaughnessey on court three.
Brandon Laubser picked up his first singles win in SEC play with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback victory over Grayson Goldin on court five. Conner Huertas del Pino also was a three-set winner, taking his match on court four against Spencer Richey by a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 score.
Auburn is now 9-8 and ranked No. 52 nationally; Alabama is now 13-8. On Sunday, Auburn visits No. 24 Mississippi State for a 1 p.m. CT match at the Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville. Mississippi State is 12-4 overall and 4-2 in SEC action.
Auburn's next home match comes up Sunday, April 3, hosting No. 49 Vanderbilt at 1 p.m. CT. All home matches are played at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (771 Yarbrough Farms Blvd., Auburn) and admission is free.
Alabama 4, Auburn 3
Singles
Mazen Osama (UA) def. Marko Krickovic (AU) 6-2, 6-3
Korey Lovett (UA) def. Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Dante Saleh (AU) def. Becker O'Shaughnessey (UA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Spencer Richey (UA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Grayson Goldin (UA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Matthew Rossouw (UA) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
Marko Krickovic/Max Hinnisdaels (AU) vs. Korey Lovett/Mazen Osama (UA), 6-5 unfinished
Grayson Goldin/Becker O'Shaughnessey (UA) def. Brandon Laubser/Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-3
Spencer Richey/Matthew Rossouw (UA) def. Conner Huertas del Pino/Dante Saleh (AU) 7-5
Length of match: 2:23; Order of finish: Doubles: 2,3; Singles: 6,1,5,2,3,4