NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the Commodores didn’t come away with a victory Sunday afternoon, the team sent off its seniors with some individual achievements and a large crowd at the Currey Tennis Center this season to cap off their Vanderbilt careers at home.
In their home finale, the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team nearly stunned in-state and Southeastern Conference rival, No. 5 Tennessee, but ultimately fell 4-3.
“We lost a heartbreaker today but I’m proud of the way we competed,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage.
Adding another prestigious honor, fifth-year senior George Harwell reached 100 singles wins over his career. Collecting his fifth-ranked singles win on the season, Harwell defeated No. 14 Adam Walton, in straight sets, 7-6 (6), 6-2, on the top court.
Junior Joubert Klopper also earned his fifth-ranked singles win on the season after taking down the No. 5 singles player in the nation, Johannus Monday, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, on Court 2. The win puts Klopper 27-9 overall in singles play, including a 15-6 dual record and 6-3 in SEC play.
A trio of seniors – Harwell, Max Freeman and Macsen Sisam – were honored in a ceremony prior to the match for their dedication and accomplishments both on and off the court through the years.
The Dores capped off the weekend with a 11-5 home record and now stand at 14-9 on the season as they head on the road to conclude the regular season.
“If we have a good ending to our regular season next weekend, we can reset for the postseason and we’ll be a dangerous team for anyone to play,” said Duvenhage.
Seeing Double
- The Volunteers clinched the doubles point with wins on the top two courts Sunday afternoon.
- Junior Siim Troost and freshman Michael Ross, ranked 76th nationally, put up a battle on the top court, but fell to No. 79 Walton and Pat Harper of Tennessee, 6-3.
- The Vols took the doubles point as fifth-year senior duo Harwell and Max Freeman fought-hard, but were ultimately defeated by No. 19 Emile Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui of Tennessee, 6-4.
- Sisam and sophomore Jeremie Casabon were up 5-3 to Mark Wallner and Monday when their match was called.
Tested at Singles
- The Vols got off to a fast start in singles play, extending their lead to 2-0, after Tennessee’s Angel Diaz defeated Casabon in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, on Court 5.
- Tennessee continued their hot streak, making it 3-0 in favor of the visiting team, after senior Marcus Ferreira fell to Tennesee’s Hudd, ranked 45th nationally, with a pair of 6-2 sets on Court 3.
- The momentum turned for Vandy as Klopper defeated Monday of Tennessee, ranked fifth nationally, in an upset victory on Court 2 in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The victory put the Dores on the board as Tennessee still had the lead, 3-1. Klopper has a 27-9 singles record on the season, including 15-6 dual record and 6-3 in SEC play.
- Troost grabbed his fifth-straight SEC singles win after defeating Tennessee’s Martim Prata, 6-4, 6-3, on Court 6. In singles play, Troost holds a 14-5 dual record on the season and is 8-2 in SEC play. Troost’s victory inched the Dores closer to even out the match as in-state rival Tennessee had a slight lead, 3-2.
- The Dores evened the match on the top court, 3-3. Harwell capped off his career at Currey by hitting the century mark in singles play. The Nashville, Tennessee native reached 100 career singles wins after defeating No. 14 Adam Walton. Harwell battled hard to take the first set tiebreaker, 7-6 (6), before taking the second set, 6-2, to reach his fifth-ranked win on the season.
- The match clincher came on Court 4 as Freeman battled hard but fell in a heartbreaker to Tennessee’s Mitsui. Freeman came out strong to win the first set tiebreaker, 7-6 (3), before Mitsui forced a third and decisive set, where Freeman fought-hard, but fell short to Mitsui, 7-6 (1).
Next Serve
The Dores close out the final weekend of the regular season in the Magnolia State against a pair of ranked SEC West foes. Vandy will head to StarkVegas for a matchup against Mississippi State at 3 p.m. Friday before trekking to Oxford, Mississippi to face Ole Miss at 1 p.m. next Sunday.
Senior Spotlight by Vanderbilt Athletics on on Exposure
