TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 17 Alabama won the doubles point and first four completed singles matches to defeat Vanderbilt’s 49th-ranked men’s tennis team 6-1 on Sunday.
The loss dropped Vanderbilt to 4-12 overall and 0-6 in the SEC. Alabama improved to 17-3 overall and 5-1 in the SEC.
Trailing 4-0 in the match, Vanderbilt concluded play by taking the final three singles matches to three sets. However, the Commodores were only able to win one of those matches.
Earning Vanderbilt’s lone point was junior Vijay Paul, who rallied from one set down to defeat No. 76 Mathieu Thibaudeau, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7), in the No. 2 singles position. The win avenged Paul’s three-set loss on Friday when he won the first set over No. 44 Alexey Tsyrenov of Auburn before losing the final two.
The other two Commodores who lost three-set matches were Nick Cromydas in the No. 3 position and Adam Baker in the No. 4 position. Cromydas lost to Michael Thompson, 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (10-1). Baker lost to Dan Buikema, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5).
Vanderbilt sophomore Alex Zotov entered Sunday’s match having won six in a row and was 5-0 in the league, but his win streak came to an end with a 6-3, 7-5, loss to Ricky Doverspike in the No. 6 singles position.
The loss marked the first time Vanderbilt scored just one point this season. Six of its losses have been by one point, while the other previous losses had all been by the score of 5-2.
Vanderbilt will continue its road trip next Friday when it travels to Starkville, Miss., to face Mississippi State at 2 p.m.
