March 18, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn men's tennis team captured an important SEC road win Saturday with a 4-3 victory at No. 34 Vanderbilt.
"I'm so proud of the way the team battled through adversity today," said Auburn coach Bobby Reynolds. "Vanderbilt is a very well-coached team and comes out ready to play every match. We had our backs against the wall in doubles, and for Max and Conner to come back from 5-2 down gave us that important doubles point and momentum starting singles.
"The way that Brandon and Olle both finished their matches put a huge smile on my face. It's not all about the result, but how they continued to play aggressive tennis at high pressure moments, and not just hope their opponents missed shots. It's been a different person each week stepping up and taking the team on his back.
"I still think we have room to improve in shot selection and the importance of playing every point with a purpose; when we don't play high percentage shots at important points, we dig ourselves a hole. But I am very pleased with the fight we showed today."
Olle Thestrup and Dante Saleh captured a 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles, and on court one, Max Hinnisdaels and Conner Huertas del Pino came from behind after a 5-2 deficit to post a 7-5 win and give Auburn the doubles point.
Vanderbilt picked up the first three singles points but Auburn fought back, getting a straight-set win on court three by Huertas de Pino over Lachlan McPhee 7-5, 6-3. Brandon Laubser on court six won in three sets over Alex Ross 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to tie the match, and Olle Thestrup on court five forced a third set and defeated Panu Vertanen 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the team win.
The Tigers won an evening match at Belmont by a 4-0 score. Auburn is now 11-7 on the season and 2-2 in SEC action.
Auburn 4, Vanderbilt 3
Singles
Daniel Valent (VU) def. Max Hinnisdaels (AU) 7-5, 6-3
Baker Newman (VU) def. Carles Sarrio (AU) 6-1, 6-4
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Lachlan McPhee (VU) 7-5, 6-3
Billy Rowe (VU) def. Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-3, 6-1
Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Panu Vertanen (VU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Alex Ross (VU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Doubles
Hinnisdaels/Huertas del Pino (AU) def. McPhee/Rowe (VU) 7-5
Vertanen/Pen Binet (VU) def. Nguyen/Laubser (AU) 6-2
Dante Saleh/Thestrup (AU) def. Valent/Newman (VU) 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2,3,1; Singles: 2,4,1,3,6,5