ATHENS, Ga. – The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team wrapped up the first day of the Bulldog Scramble going 8-5 in singles play and 2-2 and doubles. Sophomore Rhys Johnson highlighted the afternoon, winning his second round singles match over No. 19 Ben Wagland of Georgia. The round robin tournament will continue Saturday with doubles at 9 a.m.
“I was very pleased with our play today,” said assistant coach Jamie Hunt. “We had four guys go 2-0 in singles, which nice to see. Rhys picked up a really big win, I’m proud of the way he has competed this fall. Anton also played very well today. As a team you could see the progress we’ve made, at this point in the fall thats what we like to see.”
The Commodores started the day with doubles. The duos of Jeffrey Offerdahl and Anton Kovrigin, and Mason Vierra and Pen Binet picked up wins in the first round. Offerdahl/Kovrigin defeated Behal and Horst of Furman 6-2, while Vierra and Binet knocked off Synn and Hoover, also of Furman, 6-3.
Kris Yee and Suresh Eswaran fell to the Georgia doubles team, 6-3, and Ryan Smith and Johnson dropped their match 6-4 to Simpson and Boris of LSU.
Johnson picked up the biggest singles win of the day for the `Dores upsetting No. 19 Wagland. The Aussie cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over the Bulldog sophomore. Earlier in the day Johnson had more of a challenge, but held on to win 7-6, 6-4.
Kovrigin, Eswaran and Binet each went 2-0 on the day with Johnson. Kovrigin won 4 and 3 over Boris Arias of LSU and 6 and 2 over Jacob Behal of Furman. Eswaran defeated Justin Butsch of LSU in the first round, 7-6, 6-4 and then knocked off Luke Hoover of Furman in the second round. The freshman, Binet, defeated both Ben Horst and Joel Cook of Furman.
Saturday will have one round of doubles and one round of singles.
Friday’s Results
Doubles
Garrett Brasseaux/Eric Diaz (UGA) d. Kris Yee/Suresh Eswaran (VU), 6-3
Chris Simpson/Boris Arias (LSU) d. Ryan Smith/Rhys Johnson (VU), 6-4
Jeffrey Offerdahl/Anton Kovirgin (VU) d. Jacob Behal/Ben Horst (FU), 6-2
Mason Vierra/Pen Binet (VU) d. Luke Synn/Luke Hoover (FU), 6-3
Singles
First Round
#72 Hernus Pieters (UGA) d. Mason Vierra (VU), 6-0, 6-0
Rhys Johnson (VU) d. Nathan Rakitt (GT), 7-6, 6-4
Jeff Offerdahl (VU) d. Cole Fiegel (GT), 6-4, 6-4
Anton Kovirgin (VU) d. Boris Arias (LSU), 6-4, 6-3
Suresh Eswaran (VU) d. Justin Butsch (LSU), 7-6, 6-4
Pen Binet (VU) d. Ben Horst (FU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Nick Papac (OU) d. Ryan Smith (VU), 6-4, 6-3
Austin Siegel (OU) d. Kris Yee (VU), 7-5, 6-2
Second Round
Rhys Johnson (VU) d. #19 Ben Wagland (UGA), 6-3, 6-3
Garrett Brasseaux (UGA) d. Kris Yee (VU), 6-3, 6-2
Andrew Korinek (LSU) def. Jeff Offerdahl (VU) 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5)
Pen Binet (VU) d. Joel Cook (FU), 6-3, 7-6
Anton Kovirgin (VU) d. Jacob Behal (FU), 7-6, 6-2
#29 Chris Simpson (LSU) vs. Ryan Smith (VU) 6-3, 6-3
Suresh Eswaran (VU) d. Luke Hoover (FU), 6-1, 6-2
