Aggies Open SEC Play with Win at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 8 Texas A&M men's tennis team opened Southeastern Conference play with a 6-1 win at Auburn Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala. With the victory the Aggies improved to 12-3 on the season while the Tigers fell to 8-4.
 
The maroon and white opened play capturing the doubles point for the 12^th time in 15 matches this spring. The All-American senior duo of Harrison Adams and Shane Vinsant picked up a 6-2 win over Conner Huertas and Brandon Laubser followed by a 6-3 win from No. 31 Arthur Rinderknech and Jackson Withrow over No. 52 Marko Krickovic and Edward Nguyen to claim the day's first point.
 
The Aggies maintained the momentum on the day picking up four-of-six first sets. No. 53 Vinsant put the Aggies ahead 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maxime Hinnisdaels on court two followed by freshman Aleksandre Bakshi defeating Laubser 7-5, 6-1 to push the A&M lead to 3-0. The Tigers claimed their lone point of the day as Joseph Van Dooren topped sophomore AJ Catanzariti 6-4, 6-3 on court five.
 
The match was clinched as Adams defeated Dante Saleh 6-2, 6-4. The New Braunfels native improved to 4-2 this spring with 64 wins in his career in College Station. No. 106 Jordi Arconada picked up his first win as a ranked player, besting Huertas 6-3, 7-5 followed by No. 13 Rinderknech outlasting Krickovic 4-6, 6-1, 1-0(4) on court one.
 
The Aggies return to the Mitchell Tennis Center for their SEC home-opener as they take on No. 30 Florida Sunday at noon followed by a 4:30p.m. match-up against Nicholls State.
 
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.
 
#8 Texas A&M 6, #66 Auburn 1
 
Singles competition
1. #13 Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. Marko Krickovic (AU) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-4)
2. #53 Shane Vinsant (TAMU) def. Maxime Hinnisdaels (AU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #106 Jordi Arconada (TAMU) def. Conner Huertas (AU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Harrison Adams (TAMU) def. Dante Saleh (AU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Joseph Van Dooren (AU) def. AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Aleksandre Bakshi (TAMU) def. Brandon Laubser (AU) 7-5, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. #31 Arthur Rinderknech/Jackson Withrow (TAMU) def. #52 Marko Krickovic/Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-3
2. Harrison Adams/Shane Vinsant (TAMU) def. Conner Huertas/Brandon Laubser (AU) 6-2
3. Maxime Hinnisdaels/Joseph Van Dooren (AU) vs. Jordi Arconada/AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) 4-4, unfinished
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1); Singles (2, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1)