Georgia Victorious Over Vanderbilt In SEC Opener

Friday, March 4

Nashville, TN

3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT

University of Georgia

Vanderbilt

March 04, 2022 | Men's Tennis

Nashville, Tenn. — The Georgia men's tennis program traveled to Nashville, Tenn. to open SEC play against No. 53 Vanderbilt, and the No. 22-ranked Bulldogs came out on top, defeating the Commodores 4-3 Friday afternoon.

Graduate transfer and the reigning SEC Athlete of the Week, Hamish Stewart clinched the match for Georgia in his second-straight clinching performance in a four-day span. No. 22-ranked Stewart ousted No. 54-ranked George Harwell, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 on court one. Stewart improves to 18-8 overall, 10-2 in the dual season, 10-4 against nationally ranked opponents and is on a four-match win streak. .

Georgia secured the doubles point from wins on courts two and three. The No. 41-ranked doubles pair of seniors Philip Henning and Trent Bryde got off to a racing start in their match going up 4-1. The duo defeated Vanderbilt's George Harwell and Max Freeman, 6-3 to grab the first win. No. 60-ranked graduate transfer tandem Tristan McCormick and Stewart fell to Siim Troost and Michael Ross, 6-3. The No. 42-ranked pair of senior Blake Croyder and junior Erik Grevelius took down Marcus Ferreira and Joubert Klopper 6-4 ln court three.

The Bulldogs went into singles play up 1-0 over the Commodores.

McCormick surged to a 6-4, 6-3 win over Klopper on court two. No.47 McCormick is now 12-4 overall, 9-2 in dual play and has won seven of his last ten singles matches. With the Bulldogs now up 2-0 in the match, the Commodores rallied. Freeman handed No.76-ranked Croyder his first loss of the dual season and broke his 13-match win streak. The Bulldogs' lead was cut to 2-1.

The Bulldogs answered after No. 79-ranked singles player, Bryde found his stride in the third set to bring the match to 3-1 in favor of the Bulldogs. Bryde defeated Ferreira 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. However, the Commodores would again cut the Bulldogs' lead down to one point with Jeremie Casabon's three-set win over Thomas Paulsell 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

With the match score 3-2, two Georgia players were left playing on courts one and six. Grevelius, in his first dual singles appearance, was in a back-and-forth match at No. 6 with Troost. However, Troost got the better of Grevelius in a 7-6(7-4), 4-6, 7-5 victory. While Stewart clinched the match for Georgia to improve to 5-1 at the No.1 position

The Bulldogs continue their stint on the road to begin their SEC schedule by heading to Starkville, MS to face Mississippi State. The Georgia Bulldogs go toe-to-toe with the Mississippi State Bulldogs Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. ET.

Results:
#22 Georgia 4, #53 Vanderbilt 3

Singles Competition
1. #22 Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. #54 George Harwell (VANDY) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5
2. #47 Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Joubert Klopper (VANDY) 6-4, 6-3
3. #79 Trent Bryde (UGA) def. Marcus Ferreira (VANDY) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
4. Max Freeman (VANDY) def. #76 Blake Croyder (UGA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Jeremie Casabon (VANDY) def. Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Siim Troost (VANDY) def. Erik Grevelius (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5

Doubles Competition
1. Siim Troost/Michael Ross (VANDY) def. #60 Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA) 6-3
2. #41 Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) def. George Harwell/Max Freeman (VANDY) 6-3
3. #42 Blake Croyder/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Marcus Ferreira/Joubert Klopper (VANDY) 6-4

Match Notes:
Georgia 8-3; National ranking #22
Vanderbilt 7-1; National ranking #53
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,4,3,5,1,6)