TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite dropping the doubles point, strong singles play propelled the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team to a 4-3 win at Alabama Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Commodores move to 10-7 on the season and stand 1-5 in SEC matches.
All three doubles matches were close, but the Commodores were unable to come away with a victory. Adam Baker and Ryan Lipman, the 49th-ranked doubles pair in the nation, were upset by Ricky Doverspike and Jarryd Botha, 8-6, in the No. 1 match. Alabama’s Daniil Proskura and Trey Walston clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 win on court three.
Once singles play began, Baker quickly evened the score at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the No. 2 match. Alex Zotov dropped a 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 decision to Ian Chadwell in the No. 6 match, but the Commodores would go on to win the next three matches to claim the victory.
After battling with Doverspike in the first set, Lipman earned a win on court one to again even the match score. Blake Bazarnik gave the Commodores their first lead of the afternoon with a three-set victory in the No. 5 match. Bazarnik won the first set, 6-2, before falling 1-6 in the second set. He rebounded with a 6-3 win in the third set for the match victory.
With two matches left and the Commodores holding on to a 3-2 lead, courts three and four were both in the third sets. Charlie Jones wrapped up a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory to clinch the win for Vanderbilt.
Bryant Salcedo dropped a 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) decision to Vikram Reddy on court four.
The Commodores remain on the road for their next two matches, as they take on South Carolina and Florida next weekend.
