NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the squad’s final home match of the season, the No. 47 Vanderbilt men’s tennis team defeated Alabama 4-3 Friday night. Junior Daniel Valent clinched the Commodore victory in three sets on court one.
“We’ve been telling the team that at some point we’re going to win one of these 4-3 matches, we just have to keep believing,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage. “I thought we played terribly in doubles, and I told the guys that we can do a lot better. They then went out in singles to win four first sets.”
Prior to first serve, the Commodores honored senior captain, Pen Binet, for his love and dedication throughout his four years at Vanderbilt. A member of the SEC honor roll, Binet prepares to graduate this spring with a degree in communication studies and a minor in corporate strategy.
“Jamie (Hunt) and I were talking about it today and he’s (Pen Binet) become one of our favorite players,” Duvenhage recalled. “As a coach, you have to make decisions without regard to who you like most, but he’s definitely one of those kids that we love to spending time with. Pen’s grown up so much over the last four years. He came here and was just a kid and he’s become a man. He done a great job for us to far this season as captain, and we’re going to miss him when the season is over. But while we’re done with home matches, we’re not done with the season.”
The Crimson Tide came out hot in doubles play, rolling to victories on courts two then one, which cost VU the advantageous one-point lead. At the clinch, juniors Daniel Valent and Baker Newman were tied, 4-all, on court three verses Zhe Zhou and Ritchie Kruuenberg.
In singles, the black and gold took the advantage in four first sets, immediately putting Alabama on the defensive. The Commodores continued to impose pressure on UA, taking three consecutive victories for the 3-1 lead.
Vandy garnered its first win on court two as Baker Newman earned his second consecutive ranked win, only allowing No. 117 Thibault Cancel three games in his 6-1, 6-2 victory. Lachlan McPhee followed the win, taking court five in a dominant 6-0, 6-3 performance against Spencer Richey. Billy Rowe rounded out the Dores’ straight-set victories, as the freshman downed Alexy Nesterov on court three, 6-1, 6-4. Alabama earned the next two victories on courts five and six to level the match, 3-all.
All eyes turned to court one as Daniel Valent and No. 31 Mazan Osama battled, winner take all. Valent rebounded from a 7-5 first set loss to power back from 5-2 deficits in both the second and third set. The junior Commodore clinched the match in relentless fashion, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
“Lachlan, Baker and Billy really helped us because they put us in that 3-1 position”, said Duvenhage. You have to give credit to Danny (Valent), because he was down a set and 5-2 and match point, then to come back to win the way he did…. He was so dialed in. We’ve been working on staying on point and we’ve got a recipe that’s working now. He stuck to the plan to clinch the match.”
Vanderbilt concludes the regular season on the road next weekend, facing Ole Miss on Friday and Arkansas on Sunday.
