April 1, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ranked 35th nationally, Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis team will look to improve on its 8-1 home record this weekend when the Commodores conclude their home schedule against No. 6 Florida and No. 38 South Carolina at the Currey Tennis Center.
Vanderbilt will open its final homestand at 2 p.m. Friday when it faces Florida. The Commodores will conclude their home season at 1 p.m. Sunday when Vanderbilt takes on South Carolina. With Sunday being the final home match of the season, Vanderbilt’s three seniors: Scott Lieberman, James Moye and Vijay Paul will be recognized before the match.
Vanderbilt (10-7, 2-4 SEC) is looking to get back into the win column after falling at Auburn, 5-2, last weekend. Florida is 5-0 in the SEC and 13-2 overall. The Gators have won eight straight matches and are led on the courts by junior Alexandre Lacroix, who is 12-2 in the No. 1 position.
South Carolina is 9-7 overall and 1-5 in the SEC this season. The Gamecocks will play at Kentucky on Friday before making the trip to Nashville. South Carolina is led on the court by No. 59 Diego Cubas and No. 79 Pedro Campos. The Gamecocks won their first SEC match last weekend when they won at Mississippi State, 4-2.
Vanderbilt has three players with at least 10 wins in dual play, led by junior Alex Zotov’s 13. Freshman Ryan Lipman is 9-7 in the No. 1 singles position and is 3-3 in the SEC. Senior Vijay Paul paces the team with 4-2 record in SEC play. Lipman is ranked No. 37, while Paul entered the rankings this week at No. 114. In doubles, Vanderbilt’s duo of Paul and Lipman moved to No. 53 this week.
The ceremony for Vanderbilt’s three seniors will take place approximately 10 minutes before the match begins. Admission is free to both matches.