No. 14 Texas A&M Exits SEC Tournament in Second Round
The No. 14 ranked Texas A&M men’s tennis team suffered an unexpected defeat in their second round match in the SEC Tournament, falling to the No. 44 LSU Tigers in a nail-biting face-off on April 18. This surprise exit is the earliest the Aggies have experienced in recent years, leading to a sense of shock and disappointment throughout the team and fans alike.
Held at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Tigers edged out a 4-3 win against the Aggies, demonstrating a dramatic finale to the tournament’s second round. The Aggies, who entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed, had received a first-round bye, while the Tigers had to overcome the No. 12 seed – the Ole Miss Rebels – to earn the chance to take on the Aggies.
Advantageous Start for the Aggies
The Aggies had been riding on an undefeated streak against LSU since 2013, making the outcome all the more unexpected. The initial stages of the match seemed to favor the Aggies, as their freshman and junior duo, Lathan Skrobareck and JC Roddick, claimed the first maiden match against LSU’s senior Ben Koch and fifth-year senior Stefan Latinovic with a 6-2 victory. The momentum continued when the Aggies’ No. 16 team of Giulio Perego and Togan Tokac sealed the doubles point, triumphing over the Tigers’ No. 59 team with a 7-6, (7-5) scoreline.
Tigers turn the Tables
Despite the Aggie’s initial dominance, the Tigers displayed an impressive comeback. First, junior Tigers player Julien Penzlin demonstrated his skill, overcoming Aggies’ Perego in two sets, 6-1, 6-4. With a 2-1 lead secured through freshman Rudy Ceccon’s victory over Tokac, the Tigers were in an advantageous position.
Aggies’ Attempt to Claw Back
But the Aggies weren’t ready to give up that easily. Senior Aggies player Raphael Perot clawed back the score, beating Latinovic in two sets, 6-4, 6-4. Following Perot’s success, freshman Tiago Pires triumphed over Chen Dong, putting A&M momentarily back in the game.
LSU Tigers Secure Victory in Final Duel
With the scoreboard reading 3-3, and a place in the third round of the SEC Tournament hanging on the line, all eyes were on a decisive duel between the Tigers’ Vasquez and A&M’s Roddick. Despite losing the first set 6-4, the LSU freshman won the subsequent two sets, 7-5, 7-6. This upset did not only bring victory for the Tigers but also an unexpected termination for the Aggies in the second round of the SEC tournament.
The Texas A&M men’s tennis team will now look ahead to the NCAA Tournament, hoping to rebound from their five-match losing streak. The selection for the regional assignment will take place on April 29, offering a new opportunity for the Aggies to showcase their talent.
