March 11, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn men's tennis team (9-6, 1-1) picked up its first SEC win of the season with a 5-1 victory over Alabama (6-10, 0-4) Saturday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Play began outdoors, but a cloudburst seven minutes into doubles play moved the action indoors.
"I liked the way the guys fought. Alabama's a good team and a well-coached team. I know that we've the lost the last two years in this rivalry so emotions were high on both sides. I think we did a good job of using those emotions to our benefit," said Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds.
"The way we came out in doubles and to win four first sets in singles - once you have that lead, you have to keep that foot on the accelerator and we did. I was happy with how our guys kept it going. And that large crowd energized the team and that energy helped us. It was a good team win all the way."
Auburn captured the doubles point with a pair of wins. Brandon Laubser and Edward Nguyen posted a 6-1 victory over Alexey Nesterov and Edson Ortiz, and Olle Thestrup and Dante Saleh followed that with a 6-2 win on court three over Thibault Cancel and Zhe Zhou to clinch the doubles point.
Playing on court two, freshman Carles Sarrio gave Auburn its first singles point, with a 6-3, 6-2 straight-set win over No. 103 Thibault Cancel. Sophomore Brandon Laubser defeated Ritchie Kruunenberg 6-0, 7-5 on court six, and Conner Huertas del Pino clinched the win for Auburn on court three with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Edson Ortiz.
Edward Nguyen added a bonus point for Auburn with a 6-4, 6-3 win on court four over Alexey Nesterov after the match was clinched, and Max Hinnisdaels defeated No. 41 Mazen Osama 5-7, 6-4, 1-0, winning the tiebreak set 10-5.
Next weekend, Auburn plays at Kentucky on Thursday (5 p.m. CT), and on Sunday at Vanderbilt (noon) and Belmont (5 p.m.) in Nashville.
Auburn 6, Alabama 1
Singles
Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Mazen Osama (UA) 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-5)
Carles Sarrio (AU) def. Thibault Cancel (UA) 6-3, 6-2
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Edson Ortiz (UA) 6-4, 6-1
Edward Nguyen (AU) def. Alexey Nesterov (UA) 6-4, 6-3
Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Richie Kruunenberg (UA) 6-0, 7-5
Doubles
Max Hinnisdaels/Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) vs. Mazen Osama/Spencer Richey (UA) 4-4 unfinished
Edward Nguyen/Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Alexey Nesterov /Edson Ortiz (UA) 6-1
Dante Saleh/Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Thibault Cancel/Zhe Zhou (UA) 6-2
Time of Match: 2:00; Order of Finish: Doubles: 2,3; Singles: 2,6,3,4,