TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Vanderbilt dropped the second of two road matches in an all-Alabama swing Sunday, falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide by a 6-1 scoreline.
It took two tiebreakers for Alabama (10-4, 2-2 SEC) to pull away and take the doubles point from the Commodores. Vandy’s top doubles pair of George Harwell and Max Freeman fell in the decisive match in a tight 7-6 (6) tiebreak. Marcus Ferreira and Macsen Sisam fell short in a 6-2 decision at No. 2, while Jeremie Casabon and Adam Sraberg unfinished in a 6-6 tiebreak at No. 3.
The Crimson Tide won the first two singles matches to claim a quick 3-0 advantage over the Dores. Joubert Klopper took the lone Commodores (4-5, 0-4 SEC) point of the day with a 7-6 (3), 6-0 win at No. 6. Harwell battled back from a first set loss, only to fall late to his Tide competition. Casabon and Sisam also fell in three sets to close out the day.
Vanderbilt will step aside from SEC play this Friday on the road against regional rival Middle Tennessee. First serve in Murfreesboro is set for 5 p.m. The Dores and Blue Raiders will again meet a week later on March 14 when Middle Tennessee visits Vandy.
Results
Singles
1. Zhe Zhou (UA) def. #117 George Harwell (VU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. #89 Edson Ortiz (UA) def. Marcus Ferreira (VU) 6-0, 7-5
3. Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) def. Max Freeman (VU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Gabriel Diaz Freire (UA) def. Macsen Sisam (VU) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
5. Riccardo Roberto (UA) def. Jeremie Casabon (VU) 6-7, 6-3, 6-1
6. Joubert Klopper (VU) def. Alexey Nesterov (UA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
Doubles
1. Riccardo Roberto/Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) def. Max Freeman/George Harwell (VU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Gabriel Diaz Freire/Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Marcus Ferreira/Macsen Sisam (VU) 6-2
3. Alexey Nesterov/Edson Ortiz (UA) vs. Jeremie Casabon/Adam Sraberg (VU) 6-6 (2-0), unfinished
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt University 4-5
Alabama 10-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,6,2,1,5,4) T-3:47
