CLEMSON, S.C.- Auburn fell in a tight match to No. 18 Texas A&M by a 4-2 score on Sunday. The match was the opener of ITA Kickoff Weekend for the Tigers that was originally scheduled to be played in Athens, Georgia, but was moved to Clemson, South Carolina, due to weather.
The doubles point began slowly for the Tigers as Texas A&M claimed a quick 6-0 victory on court one. The other two doubles matches remained tight with both being deadlocked 3-3 at one point. The Aggie duo of Raphael Perot and Tiago Pires eventually pulled away on court three to earn a 6-4 win over Nicholas Heng and Tyler Stice to pick up the doubles point.
Singles matches began just as close as doubles matches, with Auburn and Texas A&M each earning three opening set wins. Finn Murgett won his opening set convincingly on court three 6-2, but Auburn had to come from behind to claim the first set on two other courts.
Sophomore Billy Blaydes trailed 3-1 during the opening set on court four before tying the match at four and pulling away to win 7-5. On court five, Will Nolan started strong with a 3-0 lead before allowing Pires to win four games in a row. Nolan then answered with three consecutive games to claim the set 6-4.
The Aggies earned the first singles win on court six, as No. 93 Luke Casper defeated Heng in two sets to make the score 2-0. Blaydes never trailed in his second set and became the first Tiger to secure a singles victory, defeating Giulio Perego 7-5, 6-3. The win marked the sophomore's ninth singles victory of the season and his third dual match singles victory.
Murgett trailed Togan Tokack in the second set 4-3 before retaking the set lead 5-4. The match remained close until Murgett won the tiebreaker and the match to give Auburn a 2-1 lead. In Stice's match on court one, the fifth-year senior fell in the second set tiebreaker to drop the match 6-1, 7-6 (4). With the loss on court one, Auburn would need to win both remaining courts to claim a team victory.
Texas A&M's JC Roddick clinched the match with a win on court two over Raul Dobai. The second set in the match, which was tied at four different points, went into a tiebreaker that Roddick won 7-4.
The loss marks Auburn's first of the season and drops its record to 2-1. Texas A&M remains perfect on the season and improved its record to 3-0.
The Tigers will now play in the consolation match against the loser of Sunday evening's match between Georgia and Louisiana. The consolation match is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on Monday. Live streaming video and live stats of the match will be available online at georgiadogs.com.
#18 Texas A&M 4, Auburn 2
Singles Results:
1. Raphael Perot (TAMU) def. #53 Tyler Stice (AUB) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
2. #109 JC Roddick (TAMU) def. #78 Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
3. Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Togan Tokac (TAMU) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
4. Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Giulio Perego (TAMU) 7-5, 6-3
5. Tiago Pires (TAMU) vs. Will Nolan (AUB) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
6. #93 Luke Casper (TAMU) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Results:
1. Giulio Perego/Togan Tokac (TAMU) def. Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) 6-0
2. Luke Casper/JC Roddick (TAMU) vs. Billy Blaydes/Will Nolan (AUB) 5-4, unfinished
3. Raphael Perot/Tiago Pires (TAMU) def. Nicholas Heng/Tyler Stice (AUB) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles: 1,3; Singles: 6,4,3,1,2; Official: Karen Badger-Mabry
