Feb. 26, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -Vanderbilt’s 39th-ranked men’s tennis team opens a four-match homestand this weekend when the Commodores host matches against Furman and Middle Tennessee State at the Currey Tennis Center.
Vanderbilt, 6-3, will play No. 65 Furman (3-4, 1-0 Southern Conference) at 1 p.m. on Saturday and No. 64 MTSU (3-8) at noon on Sunday. Vanderbilt’s match against MTSU will conclude non-conference play for the Commodores, who are 4-0 at home this season.
The men’s netters are coming off a 5-2 loss at No. 10 Louisville last Saturday. The doubles point has been especially crucial to the Commodores this season. In all six wins, the Commodores have won the doubles point, while in the three losses they have not.
Vanderbilt has been led in singles by juniors Alex Zotov and Adam Baker, who remain undefeated in dual play this season. In the latest individual ITA rankings, freshman Ryan Lipman is ranked 39th in singles and Zotov is ranked 94th.
Led by veteran coach Paul Scarpa, the NCAA’s winningest coach, Furman is coming off a 4-3 setback to Clemson on Feb. 18. The loss to the Tigers ended Furman’s 25-match home win streak. Vanderbilt last played Furman in 2007, defeating the Paladins, 5-2.
MTSU is coming off a pair of victories over Brown and Tennessee Tech on Feb. 23. The Blue Raiders are led on the court by their doubles duo of John Peers and Victor Melo that is ranked No. 30. Vanderbilt has defeated MTSU each of the last three seasons
Admission is free to both matches.