Strong Singles Propel Dores Over Cornell

Harwell clinches Sunday’s match, 4-3

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Vanderbilt men’s tennis concluded their weekend with a dual match against Cornell on neutral ground where the Commodores came out on top with a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon.

“It was a good win for us and I’m really happy with the way we fought back in singles after putting ourselves in a hole with doubles,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage.

After dropping the doubles point to open the match, Vandy picked up four wins over Cornell. The Dores improve to a 7-1 dual record heading into Southeastern Conference play this weekend.

“A lot of credit to Max [Freeman], Jeremie [Casabon] and Siim [Troost] for winning in straight sets and putting us on the verge and to George [Harwell] for carrying us over the finish line,” said Duvenhage.

Seeing Double

  • Siim Troost and Michael Ross were locked in a 6-6 battle at the top court when their match was ruled unfinished.
  • Joubert Klopper and Marcus Ferreira teamed up on Court 3 where they dropped a 6-1 decision to start the match.
  • On Court 2, George Harwell and Max Freeman worked to a 6-3 set in favor of the opposition to end the doubles competition and give Cornell the doubles point.

Sensational Singles

  • The momentum shifted in favor of the Dores as Troost put a point on the board after straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, on Court 6. Vandy tied the match up, 1-1, against Cornell.
  • Freeman gave the Dores their first lead of the morning with his victory in straight sets on Court 4 (6-4, 6-3).
  • Jeremie Casabon continued his successful weekend on the road, going undefeated (2-0) in singles play after he took down his Cornell opponent, 7-5, 6-2.
  • Ferreira fought hard at No. 3 singles, ultimately dropping a second set tiebreaker as Cornell picked up their first singles point and second point overall.
  • At No. 1 singles, Harwell, who currently sits at No. 54 in the ITA singles rankings, clinched the match with a tightly contested three-set match over No. 34 Alafia Ayeni of Cornell. After taking set one, 6-4, the fifth-year fell in a second set tiebreaker to force a third contest. He called the match with a convincing 6-3 third set victory to give Vandy the 4-2 lead.
  • Cornell closed singles play with a win on Court 2 to make it 4-3, in favor of the Dores. After dropping the first set, 6-3, Klopper stormed back to claim the 7-6 (5) win in set two and force a third set where he fell 6-2 to his Cornell opponent.

Next Serve

The Dores return home to open SEC play against No. 15 Georgia this Friday before hitting the road to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face the Razorbacks next Sunday.