Nov. 5, 2016
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Vanderbilt men’s team continued competition in the SEC Coaches Classic on Saturday, the squad’s final tournament of the fall.
“Today was a good day in terms of the guys building on what we’ve worked on this fall so far,” said associate head coach Jamie Hunt. “Doubles is still a work in progress, but it was good to get Pen some matches. In singles, Tate had an excellent day. I’m very pleased with how he is playing. Panu had a great first match and is also playing better. The guys are excited to finish the fall on a high note tomorrow.”
The ‘Dores opened day two of play going 0-2 in doubles with Pen Binet and Panu Virtanen falling to Mississippi State’s Mate Cutura and Trevor Foshey 8-0. Tate Allwardt and Alex Ross competed well against Auburn’s Max Hinnisdaels and Carles Sarrio, but the Tiger tandem walked away with the close 8-6 victory.
In singles, junior Tate Allwardt went undefeated taking down Auburn senior Dante Saleh in straight sets. Allwardt pulled away with the 6-4 first set victory and did not allow the Tiger, who plays primarily in the three or four spot in the lineup, a single game in the second set.
The Boca Raton, Fla. native followed up the win with a battle against MSU’s Foshey, where the Commodore downed with a 6-2, 7-6(7) victory. Alex Ross fell to Kentucky’s Jake Stefanik 6-0, 6-2, before retiring in the second set against LSU’s Julian Saborio.
Vanderbilt concludes fall play Sunday morning with one round of singles at 9 a.m.
Results:
Doubles
Cutura/Foshey (MSU) def. Binet/Virtanen (VU); 8-0
Hinnisdaels/Sarrio (AUB) def. Allwardt/Ross (VU); 8-6
Singles
Panu Virtanene (VU) def. Adam Sanjurjo (ARK); 6-1, 6-4
Nikola Samardzic (LSU) def. Panu Virtanen (VU); 6-4, 7-5
Tate Allwardt (VU) def. Dante Saleh (AUB); 6-4, 6-0
Tate Allwardt (VU) def. Trevor Foshey (MSU); 6-2, 7-6(7)
Jake Stefanik (UK) def. Alex Ross (VU); 6-0, 6-2
Julian Saborio (LSU) def. Alex Ross (VU); 6-1, 1-1 ret.
