NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 33 Vanderbilt men’s tennis team moved to 2-0 on the season after cruising past Samford (0-3) 7-0 on Saturday at the Currey Tennis Center.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Vanderbilt head coach Ian Duvenhage said. “Doubles could have gone either way. I thought we hung in there in doubles and we got better as the matches went along. We played the big points very well late in doubles and then we just got momentum and started rolling. I’m happy with the guys. We played a lot better in singles too. (Samford) is a good team.”
After winning the doubles point by taking two of the three matches, Vanderbilt was able to continue its momentum into singles play, where the Commodores won all six matches.
In the No. 1 position, senior Ryan Preston picked up his first win of the season in dual play with a three-set victory over Samford’s Jordan Delass, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Vijay Paul stayed perfect in dual play with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Samford’s Kelwin Dewet in the No. 2 position.
Junior Nick Cromydas earned his first dual win of the season with a 6-4, 7-6(10-5) win over Samford’s Renan Silveira in the No. 3 position. Bryant Salcedo also got his first win of the spring with a 6-2, 6-2 win over the Bulldogs’ Hank Grant.
In the No. 5 position, senior Evan Dufaux moved to 2-0 this spring with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Richard Walsh in the No. 5 match. Playing in the first dual match of his career, freshman Adam Baker defeated Samford’s Sam Huffman, 6-4, 6-2. Baker had trailed by as much as 4-1 in the first set before rallying.
In doubles play, Vanderbilt was able to earn the doubles point by winning the Nos. 1 and 3 matches. The Commodores struck first with Vijay Paul and Adam Baker handling Samford’s team of Brian Dushock and Richard Walsh, 8-6, in the No. 3 match. However, the other two doubles matches went to a tiebreaker.
In the No. 1 match, Vanderbilt’s duo of Evan Dufaux and Nick Cromydas and Samford’s tandem of Renen Silveira and Jordan Delass battled back and forth throughout the whole match before the Commodores were able to win the match 9-8(7-1).
In the No. 2 match, the Commodores’ team of Bryant Salcedo and Ryan Preston trailed Samford’s Hank Grant and Sam Huffman by as many as 7-4 before knotting the match at 8-8 and forcing a tiebreaker. Samford went on to win the tiebreaker 7-3 and the match 9-8(7-3).
The Commodores will return to the courts on Sunday when they host Memphis at 1 p.m. Admission to the match is free.
Saturday’s Results:
Vanderilt 7 (2-0) Samford 0 (0-3)
Nashville, Tenn.
Currey Tennis Center
Doubles:
1. Nick Cromydas/Evan Dufaux (VU) def. Renan Silveira/Jordan Delass (SU), 9-8(7-1)
2. Hank Grant/Sam Huffman (SU) def. Ryan Preston/Bryant Salcedo (VU), 9-8(7-3)
3. Vijay Paul/Adam Baker (VU) def. Brian Dushock/Richard Walsh (SU), 8-6
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
1. Ryan Preston (VU) def. Jordan Delass (SU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Vijay Paul (VU) def. Kelwin Dewet (SU), 6-0, 6-0
3. Nick Cromydas (VU) def. Renan Silveira (SU), 6-4, 7-6(10-5)
4. Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Hank Grant (SU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Evan Dufaux (VU) def. Richard Walsh (SU), 6-1, 6-3
6. Adam Baker (VU) def. Sam Huffman (SU), 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 4, 1, 3, 6
