NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 43 Vanderbilt men’s tennis team dropped a hard 5-2 setback at home Friday night to the 16th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. With the loss the team owns a 13-11 (4-5) record.
In one of their tightest doubles contests of the season, Vanderbilt earned the point advantage with two tiebreak wins on courts one and three. No. 16 Rhys Johnson and Cameron Klinger earned the first victory of the day, and the duo’s 16th this season in a 7-6(5) victory over No. 25 Redlicki/Micolani.
After a hard 6-4 loss on court two, the point rested on No.3, as Pen Binet and Daniel Valent rallied back from a 4-1 deficit to take the tiebreaker and the point for VU, 7-6(5).
In singles, the Razorbacks took five straight to clinch the victory over Vandy, three of which were in third sets. Vanderbilt’s lone singles victory came in the last match on court, as Rhys Johnson earned the Dores a solid 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Munoz at No. 3.
Quotes:
“I thought they outplayed us at certain positions, and at certain positions we didn’t play well and that’s a lethal combination,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage. “So, now this one is over. We discussed the stuff that we need to learn from it, and we’re looking towards Mississippi.”
“Obviously, Ole Miss is a huge match for us for a number of reasons. Not only for postseason prospects, it’s a match we have to have, number one. But number two, it’s senior day and it’ll be the last time that Rhys and Kris play at home. We’ve got to save best for last, and play a great match.”
Notes:
– Binet/Valent’s doubles clinch on court three, was the pair’s second SEC win of the season
– Klinger/Johnson’s victory was the team’s fifth ranked win this season, all coming in league play
– Klinger/Johnson are 4-1 in tiebreakers
-Binet/Valent are now 1-1 when competing in a tiebreaker
Next Time Out:
Vanderbilt will be back out on the courts this Sunday in its final home match of the 2016 season. Prior to Sunday’s 1:00 pm match against Ole Miss, the squad will honor its two senior leaders, Rhys Johnson and Kris Yee at 12:45.
