NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 21 Auburn was narrowly defeated by 56th ranked Vanderbilt by a 4-3 score on Friday evening at the Lummis Family Tennis Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Tigers sported a different doubles lineup than usual, moving Billy Blaydes and Alejandro Moreno to the top of the lineup card and pairing Nicholas Heng with Finn Murgett on court two. Blaydes and Moreno's comeback from dropping the first three games of the match to No. 54 Joubert Klopper and Michael Ross came up short on court one.
A few moments later, Vanderbilt claimed the doubles point with a win on court three to take a 1-0 match lead.
Auburn took away the momentum early in singles, winning opening sets on four of the five active matches in the Lummis Family Tennis Center. Redshirt freshman Nicholas Heng continued his impressive play, winning his match in straight sets over Jeremie Casabon to tie the match at one. With the first completed singles match opening up a court, Will Nolan and Hugo Coqelin were then allowed to begin their No. 6 singles match.
After winning a dominant first set on court two, Finn Murgett then helped Auburn take the lead with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Joubert Klopper. Murgett's victory improved his dual singles record to 13-2 and build the Tigers' lead to 2-1.
The Commodores then caught fire, claiming second sets on courts one and four. Vanderbilt's Nathan Cox also defeated Alejandro Moreno 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 on court three to cut the deficit to 3-2.
After dropping the first two games of the third set, Tyler Stice came back to tie the set on court one against No. 85 Danil Panarin 3-3. Panarin later claimed the third set to complete his comeback 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Stice to tie the team score at three and leave the match up to Nolan and Coquelin.
Coquelin defeated Nolan in straight sets to pick up the Commodore's fourth point and clinch their team victory.
Up next, Auburn will face No. 6 Kentucky in Lexington on Sunday at noon CT. Live video and live scoring of the match at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex will be available online at ukathletics.com.
#56 Vanderbilt 4, #21 Auburn 3
Singles Results:
1. #85 Danil Panarin (VANDY) def. #43 Tyler Stice (AUB) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. #91 Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Joubert Klopper (VANDY) 6-1, 7-5
3. Nathan Cox (VANDY) def. Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
4. Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Michael Ross (VANDY) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
5. Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Jeremie Casabon (VANDY) 6-3, 6-2
6. Hugo Coquelin (VANDY) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Results:
1. #54 Joubert Klopper/Michael Ross (VANDY) def. Billy Blaydes/ Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-3
2. Jeremie Casabon/Nathan Cox (VANDY) vs. Nicholas Heng/Finn Murgett (AUB) 4-5, unfinished
3. Hugo Coquelin/ Danil Panarin (VANDY) def. Will Nolan/ Tyler Stice (AUB) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles: 1,3; Singles: 5,2,3,4,1,6