MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Auburn men's tennis dropped two close matches during the second day of the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic on Saturday at Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Auburn fell to No. 16 Michigan State by a 4-3 score and 18th ranked Alabama 4-2 to conclude the event.
After dropping a tight doubles point that included two tiebreakers in Friday night's doubles point, Auburn's day began with the singles portion of its match against Michigan State. The Tigers started the day on fire, claiming the opening set on five courts over the Spartans to earn the momentum. Tyler Stice and Finn Murgett each came from early deficits to claim the first set in each of their respective matches.
Nicholas Heng, who won the clinching match against MTSU on Friday, continued his impressive play with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) straight-set victory on court six. A few moments later, Michigan State regained the lead 2-1 with a straight-set victory on court two. Murgett forced his second set against Sebastien Collard into a tiebreaker on court three, and earned his eighth singles win of the season 6-3, 7-6 (5) to tie the team match at two.
The Spartans then regained the lead after No. 88 Max Sheldon came back from dropping his first set to Billy Blaydes by winning the next two sets. After a challenging third set, sophomore Alejandro Moreno built an early 5-2 lead in his third set over David Saye on court four. Saye then battled back to tie the set at five, but Moreno pulled away and won his eighth singles match of the season to tie the team score with one match remaining.
The high winds had caused multiple delays on court one due to leaves moving on the court, forcing it to be moved to court two and later to court three at Lagoon Park Tennis Center. Tyler Stice and 19th ranked Ronald Hohmann III traded sets to force a decisive third set in the match. The emotionally high match featured multiple momentum swings with Hohmann ultimately winning the third set and the match by a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 score.
Alabama lost its second-round match to Princeton on Saturday morning to set up the Iron Bowl match-up to conclude the Blue-Gray Classic on Saturday evening.
In doubles against the Tide, Stice and Nolan quickly earned their second straight doubles win on court three over Matic Dimic and Roan Jones 6-3. Alabama then claimed the other two courts to pick up the doubles point.
The Tigers started singles strong, jumping out to early leads on courts two, five and six. Auburn claimed first set wins on each of the three courts to split the opening set with the Crimson Tide.
Finn Murgett, up one spot from his usual place in the singles lineup, made it nine consecutive singles wins with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout on court two. A few minutes later, Alabama regained the lead with a straight set victory on court three to make the team score 2-1.
The contest got more intense as it dragged along, including three matches that reached a third set. Stice came back from trailing late in his second set 5-4 to No. 30 Filip Planinsek to win the set and force a third on court one.
Will Nolan was the next to finish for Auburn, winning a second set tiebreaker to claim a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory on court six. The win marked Nolan's fourth dual singles win of the season and briefly tied the match before Alabama earned a win in three sets on court four to take a 3-2 lead.
Trailing 3-2, the Tigers caught fire with only courts one and five remaining in the match. Auburn would need to win both to claim a team victory. As numerous chants erupted from Auburn supporters, Stice and Heng both built third set leads each leading 4-1 at one point in their respective matches.
Alabama's Roan Jones battled back against Heng on court five, winning five straight games to win the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and clinch the team victory for the Crimson Tide.
Southeastern Conference play is set to begin on Friday for the Tigers, as they will travel to Oxford, Mississippi to battle Ole Miss in the SEC opener.
#16 Michigan State 4, #44 Auburn 3
Singles Results:
1. #19 Ronald Hohmann III (MSU) def. #44 Tyler Stice (AUB) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. #4 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
3. Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Sebastien Collard (MSU) 6-3, 7-6 (5)
4. Alejandro Moreno (AUB) def. David Saye (MSU) 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
5. #88 Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. #92 Graydon Lair (MSU) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Doubles Results:
1. #1 Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) 7-6 (5)
2. Sebastien Collard/Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. Billy Blaydes/Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 7-6 (5)
3. Tyler Stice/Will Nolan (AUB) def. Graydon Lair/Ronald Hohmann III (MSU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1,2; Singles: 6,2,3,5,4,1
#18 Alabama 4, #44 Auburn 2
Singles Results:
1. #44 Tyler Stice (AUB) vs. #30 Filip Planinsek (UA) 2-6, 7-5, 5-2, unfinished
2. Finn Murgett (AUB) def. #57 Enzo Aguiard (UA) 6-0, 6-0
3. Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-4, 6-0
4. Andrii Zimnokh (UA) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
5. Roan Jones (UA) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Will Nolan (AUB) def. Matic Dimic (UA) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Doubles Results:
1. Enzo Aguiard/Zach Foster (UA) def. Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) 6-4
2. #35 Filip Planinsek/Andrii Zimnokh (UA) def. Billy Blaydes/Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 7-5
3. Tyler Stice/Will Nolan (AUB) def. Matic Dimic/Roan Jones (UA) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1,2; Singles: 2,3,6,4,5