The No. 33 men's tennis team scored a close, hard-fought victory in its first match of the season, rallying to defeat Michigan State 4-3 Sunday at the Currey Tennis Center.
The Commodores got on the board first as they won two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. Senior Evan Dufaux led the way with a dazzling array of clutch volleys, and coach Ian Duvenhage said, "I thought our doubles was terrific."
Singles wasn't so friendly, at least not initially, as four of the first five matches went to a first-set tiebreaker. Junior Nick Cromydas fought valiantly at No. 4, only to lose 7-6, 6-1, while No. 1 Ryan Preston, a senior, fell 6-4, 7-5. The Commodores didn't fold, however.
"Obviously, we've got some new guys, but these guys are not going to roll over," Duvenhage said. "We are actually at our best when it gets down to the nitty-gritty. They did a great job of hanging in there because at some point it did look sort of bleak."
At No. 2, sophomore Vijay Paul summoned some of his best shot-making in a brilliantly played second set to win his match, 7-6, 6-2, and tie the overall score at 2-2.
At No. 3, newcomer Bryant Salcedo fell in three sets, but his mature game demonstrated why Duvenhage felt confident in playing him so high in the ladder. With Salcedo's loss, the Dores needed to win the final two matches to clinch the victory.
Evan Dufaux split two tiebreakers in the first two sets, but he stormed back to win the third set in convincing fashion, 6-2, even when he wasn't feeling his best.
Count Duvenhage among the impressed: "He was going down (in the second set) and he said to me, ǃÚGosh, I just don't feel good,'" Duvenhage said. "And I said, ǃÚYou know what, it doesn't matter how you feel. You just got to find a way.' And, he just found a way."
Dufaux's win, which tied the match at 3-3, left the Commodores' fate in a freshman's hands. Despite trailing 3-0 in the opening set, freshman Alex Zotov emerged as the hero of the day with his steady serve and volleying, reminiscent of Patrick Rafter, to win 7-6, 7-5, and give Vanderbilt a victory in its opening match.
The Commodores host Samford on Saturday as they look to improve to 2-0.
