COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In an outdoor road match at Texas A&M, the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team couldn’t quite dig itself out of an early hole and ultimately dropped a 5-2 decision to the Aggies Friday.
Junior Joubert Klopper picked up his first ranked singles win of the season in the Commodores’ loss Friday, defeating No. 98 Raphael Perot on Court 2.
“We didn’t handle the weather as well as we’re capable of,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage. “I want this loss to motivate us to be more aggressive strategically in spite of our nerves. Fortune favors the bold.”
With the loss, the Commodores now stand at 9-3 on the season as they return home for a nonconference match against Drake on Sunday.
Seeing Double
- The Dores got off to a slow start after junior Siim Troost and freshman Michael Ross dropped the doubles on Court 1 to Noah Schachter and Kenner Taylor of Texas A&M, 6-1.
- With a 6-1 loss on Court 2, the Aggies took the doubles point as seniors George Harwell and Max Freeman fought hard but ultimately dropped the court.
- Senior Marcus Ferreira and Klopper were down 4-3 when their match was called.
Tested at Singles
- On Court 5, the Dores fell to 2-0 against the Aggies with sophomore Jeremie Casabon falling in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to his Texas A&M opponent.
- The Aggies continued their hot streak, making it 3-0 in favor of the host team, after Freeman fell to his Texas A&M opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, on Court 4.
- Klopper put the Dores on the board after grabbing his first-ranked singles win of the season after defeating No. 98 Raphael Perot in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
- Ferreira added another point for the Dores after a battle on Court 3 for straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. At that point, Vandy closed the gap on the Aggies, 3-2.
- After dropping the first set, Harwell came back to claim the second set, 6-4, before falling 6-3, to give Texas A&M the match-clinching point on the top court.
- After forcing a deciding third set with his 6-3 win on Court 6 in the second, Troost dropped a 7-5 decision to his Texas A&M rival to conclude Friday’s match.
On Deck
The Dores return home to close out the weekend against nonconference opponent Drake 9 a.m. Sunday. Vandy was originally scheduled to host the Bulldogs on Feb. 4.
