BOISE, Idaho – One day after having its comeback bid come up one point short against Auburn, Vanderbilt’s 29th-ranked men’s tennis team regrouped to post a 4-3 win over No. 26 Boise State on Sunday at the ITA Kick-off Weekend.
“It was a terrific win,” Head Coach Ian Duvenhage said. “(Boise State) is a veteran team that beat (No. 23) Pepperdine last week and that was a good win for us on the road in front of a huge crowd.”
The win moved Vanderbilt to 1-1 on the season, while Boise State fell to 3-3. After falling behind the Tigers 3-0 on Saturday, the Commodores took control of Sunday’s match early, claiming a 1-0 lead in the match by winning the doubles point.
However, the doubles point didn’t come easily. Boise State’s duo of Clancy Shields and Stanley Sarapanich defeated VU’s Bryant Salcedo and Nick Cromydas, 8-3 in the No. 2 position to gain the upper hand.
Vanderbilt’s 32nd-ranked doubles tandem of Adam Baker and Alex Zotov knotted the doubles match at one with an 8-6 win over Kean Feeder and James Meredith in the No 1 position.
Clinching the doubles point was Vanderbilt’s freshman duo of Charlie Jones and Alex DiValerio, who topped Blane Shields and Matt Solomon in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (9-7).
“I was really happy with the way the freshmen played again today,” Duvenhage said. “(Alex) DiValerio and (Charlie) Jones did a great job clinching the doubles point. They were down a break, but fought back to get the win. It was a good effort and I’m really happy for the guys.”
Vanderbilt’s 1-0 lead did not last long. Boise State’s Kean Feeder (No. 90) posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Nick Cromydas in the No. 2 singles position to even the match at one.
Vanderbilt roared back and took a 3-1 lead in the match following wins by Alex Zotov and Bryant Salcedo in the Nos. 5 and 2 positions, respectively.
Salcedo topped No. 22 Clancy Shields, 6-4, 6-1, while Zotov defeated No. 85 Stanley Sarapanich.
The Broncos would cut Vanderbilt’s lead to one, 3-2, following a 6-3, 6-2 win by James Meredith over Vijay Paul in the No. 3 position.
Vanderbilt would then clinch its first win of the season when Jones carried his momentum from his doubles win into singles play, where he defeated Blane Shields, 6-4, 6-4.
Vanderbilt will return to the court next Friday at 2 p.m. when No. 14 Michigan visits the Currey Tennis Center for the Commodores’ first home match of the season.
ITA Kick-off Weekend
Boise, Idaho
#29 Vanderbilt University 4, #26 Boise State University 3
Singles competition
1. Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. #22 Clancy Shields (BSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #90 Kean Feeder (BSU) def. Nick Cromydas (VU) 6-1, 6-2
3. James Meredith (BSU) def. Vijay Paul (VU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Cristian Hodel (BSU) def. Adam Baker (VU) 6-3, 6-7, 10-4
5. Alex Zotov (VU) def. #85 Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Charlie Jones (VU) def. Blane Shields (BSU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Adam Baker/Alex Zotov (VU) def. Kean Feeder/James Meredith (BSU)8-6
2. Clancy Shields/Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) def. Bryant Salcedo/NickCromydas (VU) 8-3
3. Charlie Jones/Alex DiValerio (VU) def. Blane Shields/Matt Solomon(BSU) 9-8 (9-7)
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt University 1-1; National ranking #29
Boise State University 3-3; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,5,1,3,6,4)
