GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Vanderbilt men’s tennis concluded its Southeastern Conference road challenge with a trip to top-ranked Florida, falling to the home Gators 6-1 Sunday afternoon.
Junior Siim Troost grabbed the lone point for the Commodores in the matchup, securing a win on Court 6 in straight sets. In Singles play, Troost holds a 13-5 dual record on the season and is 7-2 in SEC play.
With the loss, the Dores now stand at 14-8 on the season and 2-7 in SEC play as they return to the Currey Tennis Center this weekend for their homestand and Senior Day against in-state and SEC rival Tennessee, who sits in fifth nationally.
Seeing Double
- The Gators clinched the doubles point with wins on the top two courts Sunday afternoon.
- The Dores got off to a slow start after Troost and freshman Michael Ross, ranked 80th nationally, fell to No. 11 Sam Riffice and Ben Shelton of Florida, 6-3.
- The Gators took the doubles point as fifth-year senior duo George Harwell and Max Freeman fought-hard, but were ultimately defeated by No. 27 Andy Andrade and Mattias Siimar of Florida, 6-3.
- Senior Macsen Sisam and sophomore Jeremie Casabon were down 5-4 to Nate Bonetto and Duarte Vale of Florida when their match was called.
Sights on Singles
- Top-ranked Florida dominated singles play, winning five of the six courts.
- The momentum turned in the favor of the Dores as the match was evened, 1-1. Troost grabbed Vandy’s only point of the match at No. 6 singles, defeating Florida’s Abedallah Shelbayh in straights sets. The junior dominated the first set, 6-3, before winning the second set without dropping a single point, 6-0, over Shelbayh. With a 13-5 dual record on the season and 7-2 in conference play, Troost has been on a four-match win streak in SEC play.
- On Court 5, the Gators regained the lead, 2-1 and never looked back when No. 120 Josh Goodger of Florida topped Casabon in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
- The Gators continued their hot streak, making it 3-1 in favor of the host team, after No. 44 Harwell fell to top-ranked Shelton of Florida on the top court, 6-3, 6-2.
- Florida clinched the match with a win on Court 3 as senior Marcus Ferreira fell to 98th-ranked Vale of Florida, 6-3, 6-1.
- Freeman fought-back in the second set, but was outlasted by No. 93 Andrade of Florida, 6-1, 6-4, on Court 4, as the Gators extended the lead, 5-1.
- On Court 2, junior Joubert Klopper fell to Florida’s Riffice, ranked 26th nationally, 6-3, 6-2, to conclude Sunday’s match.
Next Serve
The Dores return to Currey Tennis Center for their home finale and Senior Day against in-state and SEC rival Tennessee this weekend. As part of alumni weekend, the match against the top five Volunteers will start this upcoming Sunday at noon with Senior Day festivities taking place prior to the match. Vanderbilt will be recognizing three seniors – Max Freeman, George Harwell and Macsen Sisam.
