Commodores Remain Unbeaten

1/23/2005

The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team faced its strongest competition thus far in 2005, but still managed to dismantle UT-Chattanooga 6-1 Sunday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.

In doubles action, the Commodore pairing of Matt Lockin and Jordan Magarik got the Dores off on the right foot, holding off the Mocs combo of Josh Bales and Mark Fynn, 8-5.

In the No. 1 doubles matchup, t

he nationally ranked Vanderbilt tandem of Scott Brown and Jason Pinsky refused to lose on Sunday, clinching the doubles point for the Dores, dropping the Mocs Arturo Navarro and Ryan Fitzgerald, 8-3.

The Dores headed into the singles draw looking to stay perfect in match play in 2005.

VU freshman Ryan Preston would stay perfect in his young career, dropping Badder Buobdella of Chattanooga, 6-0, 6-1. In his first three collegiate matches for the Commodores, Preston has surrendered a mere five games.

Chattanooga would answer the Commodore triumph with a strong victory of their own at the No. 3 singles position. The Mocs’ Artem Vlasenko would take down VU freshman Jason Pinsky in straight sets, handing Pinsky his first dual match loss.

At the No. 2 singles position,

Vanderbilt’s Andy Mack would push the Commodore lead to 3-1 with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 lashing of Thomas Knizat.

Dore senior Scott Brown, the nation’s 17th ranked player, would finish off a quick Arturo Navarro of Chattanooga, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 1 singles.

The Mocs would continue to challenge the No. 20 Commodores at both the second and sixth positions.

At No. 2, Senior Matt Lockin would need three sets to down a resilient Ryan Fitzgerald. The VU senior took the first set in convincing fashion, 6-2, but would drop the second to the Moc freshman in a tiebreak, 6-7. Lockin’s toughness would prevail in the decisive third frame, which he took, 6-4.

The Commodores would grab their sixth and final victory on the day thanks to sophomore Jordan Magarik. In two hard fought sets, Magarik prevailed 6-4, 6-4, against Moc sophomore Mark Fynn.

Vanderbilt took the match 6-1 and stayed unbeaten on the young 2005 campaign.

The Dores return to action next Saturday when they welcome the Tigers of Memphis to town. The matches are slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Currey Tennis Center.

No. 20 VU 6, UTC 1

Doubles:
1. Brown/Pinsky (VU) def. Navarro/Fitzgerald 8-3
2. Mack/Preston (VU) def. Kutschara/Vlasenko 8-4
3. Lockin/Magarik (VU) def. Bales/Fynn 8-5

Singles:
1. Scott Brown (VU) def. Arturo Navarro (UTC) (6-4, 6-2)
2. Matt Lockin (VU) def. Ryan Fitzgerald (UTC) (6-2, 6-7, 6-4)
3. Artem Vlasenko (UTC) def. Jason Pinsky (VU) (3-6, 4-6)
4. Andy Mack (VU) def. Thomas Knizat (UTC) (6-4, 6-2)
5. Ryan Preston (VU) def. Badder Buobdella (UTC) (6-0, 6-1)
6. Jordan Magarik (VU) def. Mark Fynn (UTC) (6-4, 6-4)