ATHENS, Ga. – Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis team is intent on putting the 2008-09 season behind it, and on Friday it took a big step toward doing just that. Playing in its first tournament of the 2009 fall season, the Commodores posted a 4-1 record in singles play and 1-0 record in doubles on the first day of the Southern Intercollegiate Championships.
With rain blanketing Athens, as it has most of the Southeast for the past week, the start of Friday’s opening round was delayed and moved indoors. Despite the change in schedule, Vanderbilt opened the tournament with a strong performance. The team’s 4-1 singles record, included a 4-0 mark in the Division I singles draw.
Vanderbilt took eight players to the tournament which is divided into three singles divisions and two doubles divisions.
Posting singles wins in the Division I draw on Friday were freshman Ryan Lipman, sophomore Alex DiValerio and juniors Bryant Salcedo and Adam Baker.
Making his college debut, Lipman earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kennesaw State’s Tyler Mills. DiValerio defeated Javier Tori of USC Upstate, 7-4, 7-6. Salcedo got past Mickael Trintignac of College of Charleston, 6-4, 6-4, and Baker defeated Lucas Viel of South Alabama, 7-5, 6-2. The wins advanced all four players to the round of 32.
Vanderbilt’s doubles win came courtesy of Charlie Jones and Andy Pulido in the Division II doubles draw. Vanderbilt’s duo defeated Walker Lyons and Chris Mark of Davidson, 8-5. The win advanced Jones and Pulido to the round of 32.
The Commodores’ only loss was in Division II singles where Pulido was defeated by Memphis’ Jordan Smith, 6-3, 6-4.
Vanderbilt will continue play at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships on Saturday.
Division I Singles
Round of 64
Ryan Lipman (VU) def. Tyler Mills (Kennesaw State), 6-2, 6-1
Alex DiValerio (VU) def. Javier Tori (USC Upstate), 7-4, 7-6
Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Mickael Trintignac (College of Charleston), 6-4, 6-4
Adam Baker (VU) def. Lucas Viel (South Alabama), 7-5, 6-2
Division II Singles
Round of 64
Jordan Smith (Memphis) def. Andy Pulido (VU), 6-3, 6-4
Division II Doubles
Round of 128
Charlie Jones/Andy Pulido (VU) def. Walker Lyons/Chris Mark (Davidson), 8-5
