NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In only the third dual match of his career, Vanderbilt freshman James Moye clinched the Commodores’ 4-3 win over Florida Atlantic Friday afternoon, improving the Vanderbilt men’s tennis record to 3-1.
Following the Owl’s doubles point possession and singles wins at Nos. 1 and 3, Moye and Florida Atlantic’s Lawrence Harradine were the last men standing in a close match up. The competitors split sets, but Moye soundly defeated the Barcelona, Spain native with a 6-1 final set to clinch the match and Vanderbilt’s 4-3 win.
Florida Atlantic started the dual match with the doubles point win. FAU notched the first doubles pro set of the afternoon at No.3, where Owls Karol Szmurlo and Corey Smith defeated Evan Dufaux and Scott Lieberman 8-4.
The Commodores split the contest when Andy Mack and Nathan Sachs earned an
8-6 win at No.2, despite a late game comeback by Owls Olivier Sajous and Lawrence Harradine who trailed by as much as three games during the contest.
Commodores Nik Cromydas and Vijay Paul fought to overcome a 7-4 deficit during the clinching match at No. 1. The duo notched two games in a row, breaking FAU’s serve to come within one game of tying the Owls (6-7). But Karol Szmurlo and Corey Smith edged out a final win to take the match victory (8-6) and clinch the doubles point.
Vanderbilt quickly tied the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win from Nik Cromydas at No. 2, improving the sophomore’s dual match record to 3-1 in the top two singles slots. The Owls countered a few minutes later when Olivier Sajous defeated junior Evan Dufaux at No. 1 (6-2, 6-3). With the win the Owls edged ahead 2-1.
Seniors Andy Mack and Nathan Sachs notched third set wins to bring the Commodores up, while freshman Vijay Paul narrowly dropped a 10-8 tiebreaker to FAU junior Karol Szmurlo followed by a 6-3 loss. The match was tied going into the No. 6 singles, where Moye clinched the win 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
The No. 65 Commodores will play the last contest of their five-match homestand this Sunday against No. 53 Virginia Tech at 1 p.m.
FINAL RESULTS
Vanderbilt 4 FAU 3
Doubles
1. Szmurlo/Smith (FAU) d .Cromydas/Paul (VU) 8-6
2. Mack/Sachs (VU) d. Sajous/Harradine (FAU) 8-6
3. Vardag/Majcher (FAU) d. Dufaux/Lieberman (VU) 8-4
Singles
1. Olivier Sajous (FAU) d. Evan Dufaux (VU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Nik Cromydas (VU) d. Corey Smith (FAU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Karol Szmurlo (FAU) d. Vijay Paul (VU) 7-6(8-10), 6-3
4. Nathan Sachs (VU) d. Dan Vardag (FAU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
5. Andy Mack (VU) d. Eddie Majcher (FAU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. James Moye (VU) d. Lawrence Harradine (FAU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3, 5, 4, 6*
