Saturday, February 24
Montgomery, Ala.
12:30 PM ET/11:30 AM CT
Princeton University
4
vs
3
Alabama
No. 31 Men's Tennis Wins Blue Gray Classic Title
February 24, 2024 | Men's Tennis
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 31 Princeton University men's tennis team had to go through a pair of top-21 opponents Saturday but ended the Blue Gray Classic as Champions after overcoming No. 19 Alabama, 4-3, and No. 21 Michigan State, 4-0.
"This weekend was a great step forward for our program," said Head Coach Billy Pate. "I couldn't be more proud of our determination and resiliency. We battled some illnesses while making a very quick transition to outdoors and some really gusty conditions - not to mention the tournament was stacked with highly ranked national teams this year. I feel after we were able to earn a gritty win over Alabama earlier in the day we really stepped it up in the final against a tremendous Michigan State program. We fought hard to secure a crucial doubles point and then really jumped out well in singles without looking back. I know we are learning and growing every match and I'm sure our guys will take these great moments this weekend and keep building."
Paul Inchauspe was named Tournament MVP after earning three ranked wins in singles along with two in doubles, including one over the nation's top-ranked duo.
No. 31 Princeton vs. No. 19 Alabama
While the Tigers lost the doubles point, Fnu Nidunjianzan and Alan Kam defeated Matic Dimic and Roan Jones at the No. 3 position, 6-4.
Princeton bounced back in singles, with Nidunjianzan earning a 7-6 (7-), 6-1 victory at No. 2 over No. 57 Enzo Aguiard. Aleksandar Mitric followed with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Matic Dimic at No. 6, before Sebastian Sec dispatched Matis Ponce De Leon at No. 3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. With the match on the line, No. 62 Inchauspe outlasted Filip Plannisek, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, and delivered the clincher in epic fashion.
No. 31 Princeton vs. No. 21 Michigan State
Ellis Short and Sebastien Sec first knocked off Sebastien Collard and Taym Alazmeh at No. 2, 6-4, before Inchauspe and Filippos Astreinidis outlasted the nation's top doubles team, No. 1 Ozan Baris and Max Sheldon, 7-6 (7-5).
Inchauspe earned his second ranked singles win of the day, defeating No. 19 Ronald Hohmann, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 1. At No. 4, Landon Ardila overcame Alazmeh, 6-3, 6-4, before Sec secured the victory for Princeton at No. 3 with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Collard.
Results
No. 31 Princeton 4, No. 19 Alabama 3
Doubles
Order of finish: (1, 3, 2)
Order of finish: (4, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1)
Doubles
Order of finish: (2, 1)
Order of finish: (1, 4, 3)
Princeton hosts Penn State at 10 a.m. ET and William & Mary at 3 p.m. ET inside Jadwin Gymnasium on Mar. 2.
"This weekend was a great step forward for our program," said Head Coach Billy Pate. "I couldn't be more proud of our determination and resiliency. We battled some illnesses while making a very quick transition to outdoors and some really gusty conditions - not to mention the tournament was stacked with highly ranked national teams this year. I feel after we were able to earn a gritty win over Alabama earlier in the day we really stepped it up in the final against a tremendous Michigan State program. We fought hard to secure a crucial doubles point and then really jumped out well in singles without looking back. I know we are learning and growing every match and I'm sure our guys will take these great moments this weekend and keep building."
Paul Inchauspe was named Tournament MVP after earning three ranked wins in singles along with two in doubles, including one over the nation's top-ranked duo.
No. 31 Princeton vs. No. 19 Alabama
While the Tigers lost the doubles point, Fnu Nidunjianzan and Alan Kam defeated Matic Dimic and Roan Jones at the No. 3 position, 6-4.
Princeton bounced back in singles, with Nidunjianzan earning a 7-6 (7-), 6-1 victory at No. 2 over No. 57 Enzo Aguiard. Aleksandar Mitric followed with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Matic Dimic at No. 6, before Sebastian Sec dispatched Matis Ponce De Leon at No. 3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. With the match on the line, No. 62 Inchauspe outlasted Filip Plannisek, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, and delivered the clincher in epic fashion.
No. 31 Princeton vs. No. 21 Michigan State
Ellis Short and Sebastien Sec first knocked off Sebastien Collard and Taym Alazmeh at No. 2, 6-4, before Inchauspe and Filippos Astreinidis outlasted the nation's top doubles team, No. 1 Ozan Baris and Max Sheldon, 7-6 (7-5).
Inchauspe earned his second ranked singles win of the day, defeating No. 19 Ronald Hohmann, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 1. At No. 4, Landon Ardila overcame Alazmeh, 6-3, 6-4, before Sec secured the victory for Princeton at No. 3 with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Collard.
Results
No. 31 Princeton 4, No. 19 Alabama 3
Doubles
Order of finish: (1, 3, 2)
- Enzo Aguiard/Zach Foster (ALA) def. Paul Inchauspe/Filippos Astreinidis (PRIN) 6-2
- No. 35 Filip Pannisek/Andrii Zimnokh (ODU) def. Sebastian Sec/Ellis Short (PRIN) 7-6
- Fnu Nidunjianzan/Alan Kam (PRIN) def. Matic Dimic/Roan Jones (ALA) 6-4
Order of finish: (4, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1)
- No. 62 Paul Inchauspe (PRIN) def. No. 30 Filip Planisek (ALA) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
- Fnu Nidunjianzan (PRIN) def. No. 57 Enzo Aguiard (ALA) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
- Sebastian Sec (PRIN) def. Matias Ponce de Leon (ALA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Andrii Zimnokh def. Landon Ardila (PRIN) 6-3, 6-0
- Roan Jones (ALA) def. Ellis Short (PRIN) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
- Aleksandar Mitric (PRIN) def. Matic Dimic (ALA) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
Order of finish: (2, 1)
- Paul Inchauspe/Filippos Astreinidis (PRIN) def. No. 1 Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) 7-6 (7-5)
- Sebastian Sec/Ellis Short (PRIN) def. Sebastien Collard/Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-4
- Fnu Nidunjianzan/Alan Kam (PRIN) vs. Graydon Lair/Rondald Hohmann (MSU) 6-6, UF
Order of finish: (1, 4, 3)
- No. 62 Paul Inchauspe (PRIN) def. No. 19 Ronald Hohmann (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
- Fnu Nidunjianzan (PRIN) vs. No. 4 Ozan Baris (MSU) 4-6, 3-5, UF
- Sebastian Sec (PRIN) def. Sebastien Collard (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
- Landon Ardila (PRIN) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
- Ellis Short (PRIN) vs. David Saye (MSU) 6-0, 3-6, 1-0, UF
- Aleksandar Mitric (PRIN) vs. No. 88 Max Sheldon (MSU) 6-3, 5-2, UF
Princeton hosts Penn State at 10 a.m. ET and William & Mary at 3 p.m. ET inside Jadwin Gymnasium on Mar. 2.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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