Feb. 22, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s 30th-ranked men’s tennis team will face its fifth straight ranked opponent at 11 a.m. on Sunday when No. 61 Middle Tennessee State visits the Currey Tennis Center.
Vanderbilt is 6-1 this spring and is coming off a 5-2 victory over No. 42 Wisconsin last Sunday. The Commodores are 3-1 against ranked opponents this season. Middle Tennessee State is 4-6 on the season and will play at No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday before traveling to Nashville.
Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee State have played two common opponents, Michigan State and New Mexico. The Commodores won both matches, while the Blue Raiders lost 4-3 decisions to the Spartans and Lobos.
Individually, the Commodores have two players ranked in the latest ITA rankings that were released on Feb. 21. Heading the list is No. 68 Vijay Paul, followed by No. 97 Ryan Preston.
Preston enters the rankings for the first time this spring after earning Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday for his play against Wisconsin. Against the Badgers, Preston defeated then-No. 39 Mortiz Baumann in the No. 1 singles match and then-No. 26 Jeremy Sonkin and Luke Rassow-Kantor in the No. 2 doubles match.
The Player of the Week honor was the first by a Vanderbilt player since Bobby Reynolds on Feb. 24, 2003. Earlier this spring, Alex Zotov earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for his play against Michigan State.