NASHVILLE, Tenn. | The 23rd-ranked Alabama men’s tennis team fell to Vanderbilt at the Currey Tennis Center.

The Crimson Tide (14-6, 4-2 in SEC) looked to be in control of the match early on. The Tide secured the doubles point with wins at nos. one and three. The 12th-ranked Tide tandem of Daniel Buikema and Mat Thibaudeau defeated Ryan Preston and Evan Dufaux 8-5.

Saketh Myneni and Andrew Felsenthal clinched the point at No. 3 doubles with an 8-4 victory over Vijay Paul and Adam Baker.

In singles, Alabama’s Buikema dominated Dufaux 6-4, 6-0 at No. 4 singles to put the Tide up 2-0. Alabama’s Sammy Struyf fell at No. 3 singles to put Vanderbilt on the board but Thibaudeau retaliated with a win at No. 2 singles over Vanderbilt’s Paul.

With a 3-1 lead and three players still on court, Vanderbilt began to take over the match.

The Commodores pulled out second set victories in all three matches and went on to take the match with third set victories at nos. one, five and six in the singles lineup. Alabama’s Myneni fell to Preston at No. 1 singles to finish the match.

The Tide returns to the Capstone this weekend to host the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs and No. 10 Tennessee.

Singles

1. #75 Ryan Preston (VU) d. #88 Saketh Myneni (UA) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3

2. #88 Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. #101 Vijay Paul (VU) 7-6(1), 6-4

3. Nick Cromydas (VU) d. Sammy Struyf (UA) 6-2, 6-2

4. Daniel Buikema (UA) d. Evan Dufaux (VU) 6-4, 6-0

5. Bryant Salcedo (VU) d. Javier Bes (UA) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3

6. Alex Zotov (VU) d. Michael Jung (UA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

1. #12 Buikema/Thibaudeau (UA) d. Preston/Dufaux (VU) 8-5

2. Cromydas/Salcedo (VU) d. Struyf/Bes (UA) 8-4

3. Felsenthal/Myneni (UA) d. Paul/Baker (VU) 8-4