Alabama
Vanderbilt
Men's Tennis Outlasted by Vanderbilt, 5-2
3/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 23, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The men's tennis team fell 5-2 to Vanderbilt Friday, falling to 6-9 on the season and 1-4 in Southeastern Conference play. With the win, the Commodores improve to 7-8 overall and 2-3 in league action.
"I'm at a loss for words to describe how we are finding ways to give up leads and get in the way of our own momentum," said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. "This was yet another match we gave away because of our lack of toughness."
Alabama swept doubles to take an early 1-0 lead over Vanderbilt. Court two finished first where sophomore Daniil Proskura and senior Vikram Reddy downed Vanderbilt sophomore Blake Bazarnik and freshman Anton Kovrigin, 8-6. Court one clinched the doubles point for the Crimson Tide when senior Ricky Doverspike and junior Jarryd Botha edged Commodore freshman Gonzales Austin and senior Charlie Jones, 9-8. Alabama senior Michael Thompson and freshman David Vieyra completed the sweep with their 9-8 victory over Vanderbilt freshman Joe Dorn and senior Alex DiValerio at the No. 3 position.
In singles play, Vanderbilt quickly evened the score at 1-1 when Austin downed Botha on court two in a hard fought 7-5, 6-3 match. The Commodores took the lead with a win on court four as freshman Jeff Offerdahl defeated Reddy, 6-2, 6-4. Court five finished next when Kovrigin defeated Vieyra, 6-4, 6-2. The Commodores clinched the match when freshman Joe Dorn edged Alabama's Thompson 7-5, 6-4. Alabama earned another point with a win on court one as Doverspike dominated the third set against Vanderbilt's Jones, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1. The Commodores would take the final point when Bazarnik edged Proskura 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 on court three.
The men take to the court again on Sunday when they return to Tuscaloosa to take on Kentucky. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT.
"Vanderbilt is a good team, but like in the Miami match, we simply squandered too many opportunities, which helped our opponent to be successful," added Pate. "I expect a better showing on Sunday against Kentucky."
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Doverspike/Botha (UA) def. Jones/Austin (VU) 9-8
2. Proskura/Reddy (UA) def. Bazarnik/Kovrigin (VU) 8-6
3. Thompson/Vieyra (UA) def. Dorn/DiValerio (VU) 9-8
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
Singles
1. Ricky Doverspike (UA) def. Charlie Jones (VU) 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
2. Gonzales Austin (VU) def. Jarryd Botha (UA) 7-5, 6-3
3. Blake Bazarnik (VU) def. Daniil Proskura (UA) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6
4. Jeff Offerdahl (VU) def. Vikram Reddy (UA) 6-2, 6-4
5. Anton Kovrigin (VU) def. David Vieyra (UA) 6-4, 6-2
6. Joe Dorn (VU) def. Michael Thompson (UA) 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,4,5,6*,1,3
