NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team capped its final doubleheader of the season, going 1-1. VU fell in a close 5-2 match against the No. 17 Georgia Bulldogs, and closed the day defeating Ball State 6-1.
“I was proud of the way we competed today,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage, “I was proud of the way we played. We gave ourselves chances… like when we were serving for the doubles point at No. 2. There were a lot of positives today; Rhys (Johnson) and Cam (Klinger) both played excellent singles matches. The guy that Cam beat is a really good tennis player. I just feel that it would be a whole lot easier, that for all these positives we could show something in the win/loss column.”
Vandy began the day nearly closing out the doubles point over the Bulldogs. VU tied the doubles score on court one to 1-all, as the senior/freshman pairing of Rhys Johnson and Cameron Klinger earned their highest ranked win thus far. The tandem downed No. 5 Smith/Wagland 6-4 for their second ever-ranked win.
With the doubles advantage down to court two, No. 76 Pen Binet and Daniel Valent were sent to a tiebreaker against UGA’s Oosterbaan and Zielinski. While the Dores battled hard the Dawgs took the advantage into singles; 7-6(5).
In singles VU tied the match up quickly as Klinger earned a huge win for the ‘Dores. The freshman took down No. 25 Wayne Montgomery on court two in straight sets; 6-4, 6-2. The ranked win was Klinger’s second ever and first of the dual season.
UGA’s No. 27 Austin Smith earned a victory at No. 1 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 54 Valent. The ‘Dores once again leveled the score as Rhys Johnson put on a clinic in the first set 6-1. The senior dropped the second set to Oosterbaan 6-3, but rallied back in the third claim the victory on three; 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Over on court five UGA took the lead once and for all as Kris Yee fell after taking a 4-1 lead in the second set; 7-5, 6-4. The final two matches for the Commodores all went to three sets as VU attempted to recapture the lead. However, both Newman and Alex Ross couldn’t complete comebacks with the Bulldogs taking the victory; 5-2.
“We’ve played a number of matches like this where we’ve played well, but we’ve come out on the short end of things. The good thing is that we’re getting better and better. And if we keep improving then at some point we will get over the hump. We’ve just got to keep our focus on improvement.”
Against the Cardinals the Commodores produced their ninth victory of the season.
VU earned a quick 1-0 advantage as Johnson/Klinger ended the weekend with a perfect 3-0 slate at No. 1. Newman and Tate Allwardt solidified the point with a decisive 6-3 victory over Helm/Downs on court three.
In singles, all of Vandy victories came in straight sets. The Commodores clinched the match, and were on a perfect 6-0 winning streak against the Cardinal. However the black and gold’s lone loss of the competition came on court four as Newman fell in a 10-point tiebreaker; 6-4, 2-6, 1-0.
The ‘Dores hit the road next week, continuing SEC play against the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats on Friday and the No. 72 Tennessee Volunteers at noon on Sunday.
