March 12, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores are on a great start to SEC play, going 3 for 3 last weekend, boasting a 13-3, 3-1 (SEC) record, as well as receiving honors throughout the conference as Gonzales Austin was named SEC Player of the Week for the second time this year.
However the Commodores, will have a true test this weekend as VU travels south to take on the No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies Friday at 6 p.m., and the No. 33 LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge Sunday at Noon.
In the latest ITA polls the duo of Gonzales Austin and Rhys Johnson still lead the country as the No. 1 doubles pairing. With an undefeated 12-0 spring record, the tandem has not lost a competition since Nov. 8th.
In singles, Austin leads the SEC as the 10th ranked player in the country. The senior broke Vanderbilt’s career win record last Sunday, winning his 100th singles match. For his accomplishments Austin earned a nod from the SEC, being named the conference tennis Player of the Week for the second time this year.
Freshmen Baker Newman and Daniel Valent gave also solid performances for the black and gold last weekend, both going 3-0 in singles play. Newman clinched the upset over then-No. 11 Florida in the No. 6 spot. Against Auburn, that Miami native clinched the doubles point along side partner Pen Binet in their 7-5 victory at the No. 2 spot. Valent earned his first and second ranked wins as a Commodore, playing at the No. 2 and three sports of the VU singles lineup.
Scouting the Aggies:
No. 8 Texas A&M currently owns a 7-2 overall record, going 3-1 in SEC play. TAMU’s sole loss came last weekend as the Aggies fell to then-No. 4 Georgia; 4-1. Texas A&M defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 4-2, with Jeremy Efferding clinching the competition. Like the Commodores, Texas A&M has only one home loss to its name after losing to TCU during the ITA kick-off weekend.
Four Aggies appeared in the latest ITA polls, with Harrison Adams leading the quartet at No. 48. Following the junior are No. 65 Efferding, No. 71 Shane Vinsant and No. 89 AJ Catanzariti.
Texas A&M boasts two Top-30 team doubles teams. Adams and Vinsant are currently ranked No. 9 in the country, coming off two losses last weekend. At No. 26 are TAMU junior Efferding and Szabo. Vandy’s Austin and Johnson squared off against Efferding and Szabo during tournament season, coming out on top, 6-2, 6-4.
In their last meeting the Commodores were swept at home by the Aggies; 4-0.
Scouting the Tigers:
No. 33 LSU owns an 11-3 overall record, with a 2-2-conference slate. The Tigers are coming off two hard losses to Georgia and South Carolina; falling to the Gamecocks 4-1, and the Bulldogs 4-2. Last Friday’s loss to South Carolina ended an eight-match win streak, which began in late January.
In singles, LSU boasts two ranked players, with sophomore Jordan Daigle coming in at No. 85, and senior Chris Simpson following at 117.
Joined by Boris Arias, he and Daigle own the No. 18 ranking by the ITA. The pair is on a six-match win streak, having left three matching unfinished. The No. 71 tandem of Tam Trinh and Eric Perez are coming off a 12-match win streak, having lost their first match since Jan. 7th against the Bulldogs on Mar. 8th
Last season Vandy defeated LSU twice with a score of 4-1.
