May 14, 2010
Vanderbilt Match Notes | NCAA Bracket | Tournament Central | Live Results
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a one-year absence, Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years when the 38th-ranked Commodores face No. 23 Virginia Tech at 10 a.m. CT Saturday at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.
Vanderbilt (13-10) is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third under fifth-year Head Coach Ian Duvenhage. The Hokies are 15-7 overall. The winner of Vanderbilt’s first-round match will face the winner of the Louisville-Eastern Kentucky match on Sunday.
The Commodores are 8-0 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Vanderbilt is 14-8 in the NCAA Tournament, with its best finish coming in 2003 when the Commodores finished runner-up.
Vanderbilt most recently appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 when the Commodores knocked off Indiana (4-3) before losing to Ole Miss (4-1) in the second round.
When the Commodores take the court Saturday, they will be looking to halt a two-match losing skid after falling to Kentucky and Mississippi State. It will be Vanderbilt’s first match since losing to the Bulldogs on April 22 at the SEC Tournament.
Virginia Tech is making its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies have won two straight first round matches in the NCAA Tournament and have two players ranked in singles: No. 55 Yoann Re and No. 73 Luka Somen. The Hokies and the Commodores share to common foes this season. Both teams defeated N.C. State and lost to Louisville.
Vanderbilt is led by freshman Ryan Lipman, who is ranked No. 34 in singles. Lipman earned first team All-SEC accolades and was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year. Also ranked is Vijay Paul who checks in at No. 122 in the most recent singles rankings. VU’s No. 1 doubles team of Adam Baker and Alex Zotov is ranked No. 46.
Vanderbilt should be prepared for NCAA Tournament play given its schedule. The Commodores have defeated seven ranked opponents in 2010, while all 10 of its losses have come to teams currently ranked in the top 50.
Ticket prices for the first and second round matches at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center will be $10 for a single session and $15 for an all-session pass. For senior citizens and students with ID, tickets prices are $7 for a single session and $12 for all-sessions. Please call 502-852-5151 for more ticket information.
2010 NCAA Tournament
May 15-16
First Round
No. 38 Vanderbilt vs. No. 23 Virginia Tech – 10 a.m. CT
No. 15 Louisville vs. Eastern Kentucky – 1 p.m. CT
Second Round
TBA vs. TBA – 1 p.m. CT