CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The 22nd-ranked Vanderbilt men’s tennis team will compete in the NCAA Round of 32 following a 4-2 victory over Drake University Saturday at the University of Illinois.
With Maxwell Freeman, George Harwell, Lachlan McPhee and Billy Rowe making their NCAA tournament debuts, the Commodores started the Round of 64 match impressively by winning the doubles points against Drake.
The Commodores walked away from doubles with a 1-0 lead following a pair of 6-2 victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2. VU’s Cameron Klinger and Billy Rowe, ranked 11th in the nation, were first off the court with a 6-2 win over Barney Thorold and Vinny Gillespie.
Lachlan McPhee and Maxwell Freeman clinched the doubles point for the black and gold on court No. 2. The Dore duo played efficient tennis against Ben Clark and Finley Hall, taking a 6-2 win for the clinch. Baker Newman and George Harwell led on court No. 3, 5-4, at the conclusion of doubles action.
The Commodores and Bulldogs continued to clash in singles play, with Vanderbilt earning two-of-six opening sets.
Vanderbilt’s first singles win of the outing came on court No. 6 where Harwell made a stellar NCAA tournament debut by extended Vandy’s lead to 2-0. The Nashville native escaped to challenging sets against Drake’s Hall, win in 6-4, 6-4 fashion.
The Bulldogs earned their first point of the day on court No. 2, as the squad’s Tom Hands earned a straight-set victory over Vanderbilt’s Newman 6-3, 6-4.
Klinger, ranked 26th nationally, extended the Commodores’ lead to 3-1 by defeated Thorold in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Drake earned a second point on court No. 5 in a competitive three-setter between Freeman and the Bulldogs’ Clark. After falling in the first set, 6-2, Freeman rallied to force a third and final set by handing Clark a 6-2 setback. The Bulldog played efficient throughout the third and final set, limiting Freeman to one game in a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win.
Rowe came through with the Commodore clinch, sealing Vanderbilt’s place in the NCAA Round of 32. The sophomore from Coronado, Calif. fell in a first set tiebreaker against Drake’s Ben Wood, then rallied to take the final two sets, earning a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Vanderbilt will take on the winner of the No. 9 Illinois/Marquette match on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
Tickets for the NCAA First and Second Rounds can be purchased at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex starting one hour prior to the first match each day. One ticket is valid for one admission to all matches on the day the ticket is purchased.
Spectator parking is available east of the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex off of Goodwin Avenue. Spectators can enter the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex from this lot.
