NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Commodore men’s tennis team upset No. 23 Clemson 4-3 Sunday evening at the Currey Tennis Center.
After falling 2-1 in the doubles contest, Vanderbilt (4-4) struck back with wins from Ryan Preston at No. 1, Nik Cromydas at No. 3, Vijay Paul at No. 4 and Andy Mack at No. 6 to seal the comeback over the Tigers (9-3).
Despite an already decided doubles point loss, Nathan Sachs and Vijay Paul overcame a 5-0 deficit to defeat Tigers Rok Bizjak and Carlos Alvarez 9-7 at No. 3. The duo’s determination would catch on throughout the team during the singles contest.
“After the doubles loss I just told the guys, `let’s forget it. If everyone takes responsibility for their actions during singles we can win this.’ And they did just that,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Ian Duvenhage said.
Preston was the first Commodore to earn a match win, defeating Clemson No. 1 Jermaine Jenkins 6-4, 6-4, marking Preston’s first win of the season.
After a 6-2 loss in his first set, freshman Paul sprung back to silence Clemson’s Paul Koenke 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 for Vanderbilt’s second win.
Vanderbilt sophomore Cromydas put the Commodores up 3-2 when he handed senior Ryan Young his second loss of the season in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
The deciding match fell with Commodore senior Andy Mack. Mack is no stranger to playing the clinching contest as he sealed Vanderbilt’s first SEC win of the season in 2006 against Mississippi State.
“The extra pressure makes me more focused,” Mack said. “I stop thinking about everything else and only focus on what matters.”
Mack defeated Carlos Alvarez in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to gift wrap the Commodore’s first Top 25 win of 2007.
“I feel so good right now,” Mack said. “Our team needed this win. We’ve always been so close to top teams. It’s good to finally breakthrough.”
Vanderbilt will look for another ranked win next Sunday when the team travels to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to face No. 44 Middle Tennessee.
RESULTS
2/18/07
Vanderbilt 4, Clemson 3
Doubles
1. Reix/Young (CU) d. Preston/Lieberman (VU) 8-4
2. Jenkins/Koenke (CU) d. Magarik/Mack (VU) 8-5.
3. Sachs/Paul (VU) d. Bizjak/Alvarez (VU) 9-7
Singles
1. #55 Ryan Preston (VU) d. Jermaine Jenkins (CU) 6-4, 6-4
2. #46 Clement Reix (CU) d. #97 Evan Dufaux (VU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Nik Cromydas (VU) d. Ryan Young (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4. Vijay Paul (VU) d. Paul Koenke (CU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Rok Bizjak (CU) d. Nathan Sachs (VU) 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3
6. Andy Mack (VU) d. Carlos Alvarez (CU) 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 1, 4, 3, 6*, 5
