Feb. 26, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 16 Commodores (9-2) are set to begin SEC action this weekend as they travel to the No. 67 Arkansas Razorbacks Friday at 2 p.m. and the No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels Sunday at 1 p.m.
The `Dores take to the roads for SEC play on a high-note as VU garnered two quality 4-3 wins last weekend against No. 34 Minnesota and No. 25 Harvard while in Cambridge, Mass.
With the latest ITA rankings released on Feb. 24th, Vanderbilt is now home to the No. 1 doubles team in the nation. Rhys Johnson and Gonzales Austin currently have an undefeated record of 7-0 in dual match play.
Senior Gonzales Austin is the Commodores lone ranked singles player, coming in at No. 9. Austin was named as this weeks SEC Player of the Week for his undefeated 10-0 record and 97-40 career record.
The Razorbacks begin SEC play with a 10-4 record; riding a five-match win streak. In the No. 1 spot of the Arkansas lineup, junior Giammarco Micolani has also won five matches in a row.
During their last meeting, VU once again opened up the SEC season against the Razorbacks. The then-No. 14 Commodores swept then-No. 66 Arkansas, 7-0. With the win the Commodores improved to 9-2, and 1-0 in SEC action.
While the `Dores will have one SEC match under their belts, the Commodores head to Oxford, Miss. as the No. 10 Rebels open their SEC season against Vandy. Weather permitting the match will take place on the outdoor courts of the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
Vanderbilt and Ole Miss faced each other during tournament season during the SEC Fall Classic as well as in the Commodore Scramble.
In ITA singles rankings, Nik Scholtz leads the Rebs as the No. 60 player in the country. Named last season’s SEC Player of the Year, Scholtz has amassed a 15-0 home win streak. Following the senior in the rankings are Stefan Lindmark (No. 63) and Ricardo Jorge at No. 117.
In their last dual match competition, then-No. 54 Ole Miss upset the No. 23 Commodores; 4-1.