Texas A&M
Kentucky
Aggies Declaw Wildcats, Win SEC Opener
Feb 27, 2015 | Men's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION – The No. 9 Texas A&M men's tennis played through frigid temperatures and chilling wind to defeat Kentucky in the first match of conference season Friday afternoon at the George P Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies improved to 5-1 overall while the Wildcats fell to 6-7 on the season.
“This is a big start for us in the SEC as you have to hold serve at home,” Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton said. “The SEC is a tough conference this year with a lot of good teams as usual.”
The Aggies opened the scoring by claiming the doubles point for the sixth straight match. No. 22 Jeremy Efferding and Jordan Szabo broke the seal with the 6-2 win over Jerry Lopez and William Bushamuka on doubles court two. The maroon and white clinched the day's first point as freshman AJ Catanzariti and Arthur Rinderknech bested Nils Ellefsen and Jake Stefanik on the third doubles court.
“This team is pretty deep and we have had some success in our doubles which has gotten us off to a good start,” Denton added. “Then obviously we are riding the confidence of some good wins here recently and we played pretty well at home so I felt our guys would come out and play today.”
The Aggies maintained momentum as play switched to singles, the home team took the first set on all six courts. No. 88 Catanzariti continued his impressive freshman campaign capturing the second A&M point with a straight-set victory over Trey Yates on court five. The win was the 20th on the season for the Pennsylvania native.
A short time later No. 66 Efferding stake the home team to a 3-0 lead. The senior claimed his fifth win over a ranked opponent with a straight-set win over 83rd ranked Beck Pennington. The Floridian is 5-1 in dual matches this Spring and 2-0 when playing on court one.
The clinch win came on court six from Max Lunkin, just an hour after singles play began. The Moscow, Russia native worked quickly to defeat Ellefsen 6-4, 6-0. The sophomore is 3-0 in duals and has won his last eight matches.
“Lunkin has really worked hard in the offseason and I'm really proud of the way he's playing,” Denton said. “I thought he would end up being a good player but sometimes it's tough for these kids to come in in January like he did last year and really perform, not really knowing the college situation and getting accustomed to college tennis. Now he is acclimated a lot better and obviously he's playing a lot better tennis.”
The Aggies will conclude their home stand with a double header against No. 56 Tennessee and Nicholls State on Sunday, at noon and 4 p.m. respectively.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
#9 Texas A&M def. Kentucky, 4-0
George P Mitchell Tennis Center
February, 27, 2015
Singles competition
1. #66 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) def. #83 Beck Pennington (UK) 6-1, 6-0
2. #65 Shane Vinsant (TAMU) vs. Jerry Lopez (UK) 6-4, 5-3 unfinished
3. #39 Harrison Adams (TAMU) vs. #122 William Bushamuka (UK)6-1, 5-5 unfinished
4. Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) vs. Kevin Lai (UK) 6-4, 0-3 unfinished
5. #88 AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) def. Trey Yates (UK) 6-1, 6-2
*6. Max Lunkin (TAMU) def. Nils Ellefsen (UK) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #8 Shane Vinsant & Harrison Adams (TAMU) vs. #45 Beck Pennington & Kevin Lai (UK) 4-5, unfinished
2. #22 Jeremy Efferding & Jordan Szabo (TAMU) def. Jerry Lopez & William Bushamuka (UK) 6-2
3. AJ Catanzariti & Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. Nils Ellefsen & Jake Stefanik (UK) 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3), Singles (5,1,6)
*Clinched the Match
Players Mentioned
