NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 26 Vanderbilt Commodores improved their season mark to 5-2 with a 4-3 win over the No. 53 Indiana Hoosiers.
“We’ve played them for probably six years in a row and they’ve always played us tough,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage. “We knew they always come in with great emotion; there’s a lot of yelling, intensity, and they’re always fired-up to play us.”
For the first time this season Vandy dropped the doubles point to Indiana, but the loss of the point did not come without a phenomenal Commodore performance by the No. 1 doubles team of Gonzales Austin and Rhys Johnson. Ranked the No. 5 team in the country, the duo dominated IU’s Sam Monette and Daniel Bednarczyk in an easy 6-0 victory.
“I thought Rhys (Johnson) and AJ (Austin) just played superbly at No. 1 doubles. If they play like that they could make a lot of money on the pro tour together. That was just an exhibition. But we really didn’t do a good job at two, but we hung in there at three, but I thought they were more intense than we were and their energy level was higher. When you lose that battle, more often than not you lose the match. So we dug ourselves a hole and had to come back.”
Senior No. 10 Gonzales Austin generated the first Vanderbilt point of the night, tying the score at one-all after one of the most spirited battles between the two No. 1 singles players. Austin defeated Hoosier junior Sam Monette; 6-2, 6-3. The Miami, Fla. native now improves to 6-0 on the season, and 51-23 overall.
It was a great performance all-around for No. 73 Rhys Johnson as he ended a three-match losing streak, defeating Daniel Bednarczyk; 6-2, 6-4.
Daniel Valent secured his tenth win in a row after defeating Matt McCoy; 6-3, 6-2. The freshman’s streak began on Nov. 7, with wins ranging from the fourth spot of the Commodore to the second.
Both of Vanderbilt’s losses came from three-set heart breakers as Kris Yee lost to Raheel Manji; 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Jeffrey Offerdahl fell to Svel Lalic; 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“I was really happy to see Rhys get on track today, we needed that. Hopefully we can get Kris Yee on track, because he’s won a lot of big matches for us. He’s struggled so far this year, but we’re going to get it going.”
With the match tied at three-all, for the fourth time this season, and second time in a row, the Commodores hopes rested on the shoulders of Suresh Eswaran in the No. 6 singles positions.
“I remember my freshman year, when I played No. six, we were up 3-2 and I completely fell apart, and lost the match,” recalled the senior. “So I think it’s been a complete 360, I don’t really feel any pressure anymore. I know my teammates will have my back whether I win or lose.”
The senior defeated IU’s Segan Lugonjic, displaying a level head and cool demeanor that has taken the season senior some time to establish. Eswaran clinched the match for the `Dores coming up with a solid 6-4, 6-2 victory.
The Commodores remain at home for their next match, taking on the No. 48 Michigan Wolverines Sunday at 1 p.m.
Doubles
Finish: 1, 2, 3
1) No. 5 Gonzales Austin/Rhys Johnson (VU) def. Sam Monette/Daniel Bednarczyk (IU); 6-0
2) Chris Essick/Stefan Lugonjic (IU) def. Ryan Smith/Baker Newman (VU); 6-0
3) Sven Lalic/Raheel Manji (IU) def. Daniel Valent/Suresh Eswaran (VU); 6-4
Singles
Finish: 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6
1) No. 10 Gonzales Austin (VU) def. Sam Monette (IU); 6-2, 6-3
2) No. 73 Rhys Johnson (VU) def. Daniel Bednarczyk (IU); 6-2, 6-4
3) Raheel Manji (IU) def. Kris Yee (IU); 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4) Daniel Valent (VU) def. Matt McCoy (IU); 6-3, 6-2
5) Sven Lalic (IU) def. Jeff Offerdahl (VU); 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6) Suresh Eswaran (VU) def. Stefan Lugonjic (IU); 6-4, 6-2
