“Rain, Rankings, and a 4-0 Silence: How Auburn ‘Did Nothing’ and Still Sent Belmont Packing in the NCAA Opener”
In a tournament where chaos is the norm and surprises are expected, Auburn’s men’s tennis team delivered a performance so calculated, so composed, and so clinical that it almost seemed… quiet. And yet, that silence echoed loudly across the NCAA tennis landscape as the Tigers dismantled Belmont 4-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Championship — without dropping a single match and without ever appearing rushed.
On a rainy Saturday morning at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio, the 31st-ranked Auburn Tigers didn’t just win — they dictated every stroke, every serve, and every shift in momentum. What was initially forecast as a gritty battle turned out to be a one-sided masterclass in execution.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t dramatic.
It was total control.
Weather Delay, No Delay in Focus
Originally scheduled for outdoor courts at the Auer Tennis Complex, steady rainfall forced the entire match to be played indoors. But if the change of venue phased the Tigers, you’d never know it.
“Survive and advance, that’s what it’s about in the NCAA Championship,” said Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds. “We came out a little slow trying to find our footing, but once we settled into doubles, we found our rhythm fast.”
That rhythm was sparked by Auburn’s top-ranked doubles pair, Will Nolan and Alex Frusina, who wasted no time asserting their dominance. Ranked No. 78 nationally, the duo jumped out to a commanding 4-1 lead before sealing a 6-2 win over Belmont’s Vedovelli and Ortiz.
Shortly after, the No. 3 pairing of Jake Kennedy and Hamza Nasridinov fought back from an early deficit to clinch the doubles point 6-4. It was the kind of gritty yet confident play that set the tone for the remainder of the morning.
Singles Play: Precision Without the Panic
The singles court became a sea of orange and blue as Auburn quickly flipped the switch from momentum to total domination.
Leading the charge was Nicholas Heng on court five, who played perhaps the most lopsided match of the day. Heng didn’t drop a single game in the first set, cruising to a 6-0, 6-2 win and giving Auburn its second point in the team match.
Not far behind was Hamza Nasridinov, a freshman who played like a veteran. After jumping to a 4-1 lead and grabbing the first set 6-1, he broke away from a 3-3 tie in the second to win three straight games and put Auburn up 3-0 overall.
Then came Billy Blaydes, a junior whose 25th singles victory of the season sealed the deal. Blaydes was dominant from the start, overwhelming Belmont’s Diego Castro 6-1, 6-3 and clinching Auburn’s advancement to the Round of 32 for the second consecutive season.
“We need to come out even more aggressive tomorrow,” Blaydes said post-match. “Ohio State is one of the best in the country, and we can’t afford a slow start. But this team believes in itself. We know what we’re capable of.”
Stats Behind the Statement
The Tigers’ stats told a story of discipline and dominance:
3 straight-set wins in singles
Doubles point clinched in less than 30 minutes
No singles sets lost
Match completed in 1 hour and 45 minutes
Unfinished matches — including Frusina’s on court two and Phillips on court six — might have padded the margin even more, but weren’t needed.
“It might’ve looked easy on the scoreboard,” said Coach Reynolds, “but every one of those guys earned that win with weeks of preparation.”
Looking Ahead: The Ohio State Challenge
With Belmont behind them, Auburn now stares down a powerhouse: No. 6 Ohio State — a perennial NCAA contender with national title aspirations. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. CT, and it promises to be a major test of Auburn’s resolve.
While the Tigers weren’t heavily favored coming into the tournament, their measured dismantling of Belmont has undoubtedly caught the eyes of opponents — and fans alike.
Box Score Recap
#31 Auburn 4, Belmont 0
Singles
Nolan (AUB) vs. Ndumbe (BELM) 6-2, 5-2 (unfinished)
#68 Frusina (AUB) vs. Robin (BELM) 4-6, 2-2 (unfinished)
Blaydes (AUB) def. Castro (BELM) 6-1, 6-3
Nasridinov (AUB) def. Vedovelli (BELM) 6-1, 6-3
Heng (AUB) def. Mizerski (BELM) 6-0, 6-2
Phillips (AUB) vs. Woodson (BELM) 4-6, 2-2 (unfinished)
Doubles
#78 Nolan/Frusina (AUB) def. Vedovelli/Ortiz (BELM) 6-2
Blaydes/Phillips (AUB) vs. Ndumbe/Robin (BELM) 5-4 (unfinished)
Kennedy/Nasridinov (AUB) def. Mizerski/Castro (BELM) 6-4
Final Thoughts: More Than a Win — A Statement
What Auburn did Saturday morning wasn’t just about beating Belmont. It was about sending a message.
That they belong.
That they’re ready.
And that maybe, just maybe, silence is the loudest way to make a statement in the NCAA Championship.
