NASHVILLE, Tenn. -Vanderbilt’s 28th-ranked men’s tennis team built a commanding 3-1 lead against No. 14 Michigan on Friday, but it was not enough as the Wolverines spoiled Vanderbilt’s home opener by winning the final three singles matches to take the match, 4-3.
Vanderbilt (1-2) pounced on the Wolverines (4-1) early, taking a 1-0 lead after winning the first two doubles matches to claim the doubles point.
The Commodores’ first doubles win came in the No. 1 position where VU’s 32nd-ranked duo of Adam Baker and Alex Zotov defeated Michigan’s No. 8-ranked tandem of Mike Srocynski and Jason Jung, 8-6. Baker and Zotov overcame a 4-2 deficit by winning four straight games to take a 6-4 lead en route to the win.
Clinching the doubles point was Bryant Salcedo and Nick Cromydas in the No. 2 position. The duo took a commanding 5-1 lead over Michigans Andrew Mazlin and George Navas before holding on for an 8-6 win. The win gave Vanderbilt the doubles point in its second straight match.
Michigan’s Chris Madden and Drew Daniel took the match in the No. 3 position by topping freshmen Alex DiValerio and Charlie Jones, 9-8 (0). DiValerio and Jones held a 6-3 lead in the match before the Wolverines came back to take the match.
Vanderbilt’s lead wouldn’t last long as Michigan’s Chris Madden evened the match at one, defeating Alex Zotov, 6-1, 6-4, in the No. 5 position.
The Commodores would quickly regain the lead when Adam Baker topped Michigan’s Peter Aarts, 6-2, 6-2, in the No. 4 position. The win was Baker’s first of the dual season.
Vanderbilt would build a two-point advantage in the match when Nick Cromydas defeated Mike Srocynski, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 2 position. The win was also Cromydas’ first of the spring.
Michigan clawed its way back within one when Jason Jung defeated Vanderbilt’s Bryant Salcedo, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 1 position.
The Wolverines knotted the match at three following a 7-6(4), 6-4 win by Andrew Mazlin over Vanderbilt’s Vijay Paul in the No. 3 position.
Michigan carried its momentum into the decisive singles match, where the Wolverines’ Drew Daniel defeated Charlie Jones, 6-4, 6-3, in the No. 6 position.
Vanderbilt will continue its home stand Sunday when the Commodores play No. 43 N.C. State (3-3) at 12 p.m. N.C. State and Michigan will face each other at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Currey Tennis Center.
