Vanderbilt 4, No. 21 Alabama 3

February 12, 1999

NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Three Vanderbilt men's tennis players defeated ranked opponents in singles to lead the team to a 4-3 upset win over No. 21 Alabama today in both teams' SEC opener. The Commodores improve to 5-0 on the year, while the Crimson Tide slips to 3-3. The win marks the highest ranked opponent that Vanderbilt has defeated during Ken Flach's tenure as head coach.

At No. 1 singles, Kyle Porter was a straight sets winner, 6-3, 6-4, over Alabama's Francisco Rodriguez, ranked No. 16 in the nation. At No. 2, Eddie Coates, ranked No. 83, was a winner over No. 57 Ariel Rivero when Rivero was disqualified while trailing 5-4 in third set. Andrew Nisker was also a winner for Vanderbilt, knocking off No. 61 Graydon Oliver of Alabama, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. Nisker also defeated Oliver last month in the first round of the SEC Indoor Championships in Nashville.

In other singles play, Alin Taranga of Alabama was a 6-4, 7-6 winner over Danny Tym at No. 4. Stuart Rhodes posted a victory at No. 5 for Vanderbilt, defeating Mason Snider, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6. Susheel Narla posted a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 win for Alabama at No. 6 over Peter Blach.

Alabama won the doubles point. Rivero and Rodriguez, ranked No. 22 in the country in doubles, edged Coates and Porter at No. 1, 9-8 (5). Nisker and Rhodes defeated UA's Oliver and Taranga, 9-7, while the Commodores' Bill and Dan McGugin fell by an 8-4 score to Snider and Karim Zaher.

The Commodores will return to action when they host Louisville on Feb. 14, following the 10 am match between the 11th ranked Vanderbilt women and No. 9 Wake Forest.

Singles Results
No. 1 Kyle Porter (VU) def. Francisco Rodriguez (UA) 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 Eddie Coates (VU) def. Ariel Rivero (UA) 4-6, 7-6, 5-4 (disq.)
No. 3 Andrew Nisker (VU) def. Graydon Oliver (UA) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
No. 4 Alin Taranga (UA) def. Danny Tym (VU) 6-4, 7-6
No. 5 Stuart Rhodes (VU) def. Mason Snider (UA) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
No. 6 Susheel Narla (UA) def. Peter Blach (VU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-3

Doubles Results
No. 1 Rivero/Rodriguez (UA) def. Coates/Porter (VU) 9-8 (5)
No. 2 Nisker/Rhodes (VU) def. Oliver/Taranga (UA) 9-7
No. 3 Snider/Karim Zaher (UA) def. Bill McGugin/Dan McGugin (VU) 8-4

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