LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Commodores wrapped up day two of the SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championships with strong efforts in difficult matches, showing promise as the team warms up for their spring duals matches.
Charlie Jones and Gonzalez “AJ” Austin played well in the main draw singles round, dropping three-set matches to two Kentucky teammates. Tom Jomby beat Austin 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(6), while Anthony Rossi defeated Jones 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Alex DiValerio and Joe Dorn paired up to beat a tough Georgia team with a 9-7 doubles result in the consolation draw, while Gonzalez Austin and Anton Kovrigin lost a close, tough doubles match.
In the main draw doubles match, Jeff Offerdahl and Charlie Jones forced a tiebreaker, losing 9-8(10) to a Georgia team.
“We lost a bunch of close, tough matches today, but they’re improving by the day and I’m encouraged by that,” said assistant coach Jamie Hunt. “Charlie and AJ both lost to really great players in the main draw (singles), but both did a lot of stuff really well that we’ve been working on.”
Dorn won his first singles match of the day, coming back after losing his first set to win 4-6, 6-0, 10-8. Suresh Eswaran also forced a third set for the win after dropping the second set of his first match. Both lost their second singles matches in the consolation round.
The Commodores open up their duals season at home against Middle Tennessee State on Wednesday afternoon this week.
Results:
Main Draw Doubles:
Taboado/Pieters (UGA) def. Offerdahl/Jones (VU) 9-8 (10)
Consolation Doubles:
DiValerio/Dorn (VU) def. Diaz/Singh (UGA) 9-7
Jones/Koch (USC) def. Austin/Kovrigin (VU) 8-5
Main Draw Singles:
Anthony Rossi (UK) def. Charlie Jones (VU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Tom Jomby (UK) def. Gonzalez Austin (VU) 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(6)
Consolations Singles:
Koch (USC) def. Kovrigin (VU) 6-4, 6-3
Pasha (UGA) def. DiValerio (VU) 6-3, 6-4
Eswaran (VU) def. Pinheiro (USC) 7-5, 5-7, 11-9
Dorn (VU) def. Diaz (UGA) 4-6, 6-0, 10-8
Alford (UF) def. Eswaran (VU) 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
Hirooka (UK) def. Dorn (VU) 6-3, 7-6 (2)
