March 26, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following a week off from competition, Vanderbilt’s 49th-ranked men’s tennis team will return to the courts on Friday when No. 22 Auburn visits the Currey Tennis Center for a 2 p.m. match. The Commodores will then conclude the weekend with a 1 p.m. match at No. 17 Alabama on Sunday.
Vanderbilt (4-10, 0-4 SEC) will look to halt an eight-match losing streak on Friday when the Commodores face the Tigers for the second time this season. Auburn (9-5, 2-2 SEC) took the first meeting of the season, 4-3, on Jan. 31 when both teams opened the spring in Boise, Idaho, at the ITA Kick-off Weekend.
Alabama is 15-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide will play at Kentucky (12-4, 2-2, SEC) on Friday before returning home to face the Commodores.
Despite its record, Vanderbilt has been in virtually every match this season. Six of the team’s 10 losses have come by one point, including its last two against Arkansas and LSU.
Against Auburn earlier this season, Vanderbilt got wins from Vijay Paul, Charlie Jones and Alex DiValerio in singles play, but lost all three doubles matches. Not in the lineup for that match was sophomore Alex Zotov, who has been the Commodores hottest player in SEC play. Zotov has won five straight matches in the Nos. 5 and 6 singles position and is 4-0 in the SEC. The Tigers are led by senior Alexey Tsyrenov, who is ranked No. 44 in singles. Sophomore Tim Puetz is ranked 106th. The two also form the 10th-ranked doubles tandem in the nation.
Last year, Vanderbilt squeaked out a 4-3 win over Alabama in Nashville. Individually, the Crimson Tide are paced by Saketh Myneni, who is ranked 32nd and Mathieu Thibaudeau, who is ranked No. 76. Alabama also has three doubles teams that are ranked. Thibaudeau teams with Ricky Doverspike to form the No. 24 doubles tandem and Daniel Buikema to form the No. 35 doubles pairing. Myneni and Billy Mertz are ranked No. 49 in doubles.
Individually, Vanderbilt sophomore Bryant Salcedo is ranked 118th. Alex Zotov and Adam Baker are ranked No. 43 in doubles play.
Admission to Friday’s match is free.