OXFORD, Miss. – Despite two upsets at the top of the singles lineup, the Commodores fell 5-2 to ninth-ranked Mississippi Friday afternoon in Oxford.
The Commodores (7-7, 2-3) fell behind early when Evan Dufaux and Nathan Sachs dropped a tight 7-5 tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles that clinched the Mississippi point. Vanderbilt battled through singles, with four contests ending in third sets, but the ITA Top 10 Rebels (15-2, 4-1) had the winning edge.
Vanderbilt’s victories came in the top two slots, where Ryan Preston upset No. 15 Erling Tviet 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 and Nik Cromydas defeated No. 102 Eric Claesson 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. Preston’s win is his fourth in the SEC at No. 1 and highest ranked upset in 2007.
Next in the lineup, junior Evan Dufaux dropped a heartbreaker to #32 Robbye Poole at No. 3. After falling 6-4 in the first set, Dufaux notched a 7-4 tiebreaker to earn a third set opportunity. Since fall play, Dufaux is 6-3 in matches taken to tiebreaker set, but was unable to pull off a final win on Friday. Poole took the win 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
Freshman Vijay Paul and senior Nathan Sachs were unable to catch a break with Ole Miss opponents. Both Commodores lost in two sets.
After making a 9-0 run in singles beginning with the second match of the season, Andy Mack earned his second consecutive loss at Oxford. Jakob Klaeson held Mack 6-4 through the first, but Mack fired back to win 6-1 in the second. Mack couldn’t keep up the momentum and fell 6-3 in the final set.
Despite the L addition to the schedule, the Commodores showcased their dramatic improvement from last season at Friday’s contest. In 2006, when Vanderbilt hosted Ole Miss, the Commodores dropped the match 6-1 with five players falling in straight sets. The loss put Vandy at 0-5 in the SEC and 5-8 for the year. Just one year later, the Commodores battled with four three-set matches, narrowly missed the doubles point, and are 7-7, 2-3 with a notably tougher schedule.
The Commodores will have an opportunity to rebound from the Rebel loss when they travel to Starkville to play Mississippi State Sunday at 1 p.m.
DOUBLES
#1 Tveit/Claesson (OM) def. Preston/Cromydas (VU) 8-5
#2 Klaeson/Matthias Wellermann (OM) def. Dufuax/Sachs (VU) 9-8(5)
#3 Mack/Magarik (VU) def. Berg/Norberg 8-5
SINGLES
#1 Ryan Preston (VU) def. #15 Erling Tveit (OM) 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3
#2 Nik Cromydas (VU) def. #102 Eric Claesson (OM) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
#3 #32 Robbye Poole (OM) def. Evan Dufuax (VU) 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5
#4 Kalle Norberg (OM) def. Vijay Paul (VU) 6-2, 6-0
#5 Jonas Berg (OM) def. Nathan Sachs (VU) 6-2, 6-2
#6 Jakob Klaeson (OM) def. Andy Mack (VU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
