April 29, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 2015 NCAA Tennis Subcommittees announced the NCAA singles and doubles tournament field Wednesday afternoon. A combined six Commodores have been selected to compete in the men and women’s tournaments, which take place May 20-25 at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.
Women’s Tennis Selections:
In singles tournament action both sophomore Sydney Campbell and redshirt freshman Astra Sharma have made the field of 64. Campbell, a native of Franklin, Tenn. comes in as the No. 8 seed in the entire tournament, garnering automatic All-American status. Junior Courtney Colton has been chosen as the third seeded alternate in singles competition.
In 2001 the NCAA selection committee honored the Commodores by selecting two doubles teams to compete tournament action, the most in school history. Look forward 14 years and the Commodores remain treacherous in tandems, fielding another program-high two teams. Associate head coach Aleke Tsoubanos was one of the Commodores chosen in ’01 and looks to help guide this talented quartet through tournament action.
Boasting an undefeated 14-0 doubles mark at the No. 2 position and a No. 14 ITA ranking, senior Ashleigh Antal and Sharma intend to do damage as one of the 32 duos chosen. Additionally, Campbell and Colton are honored with a selection as well, boasting nine wins at the No. 1 position of the VU lineup and spot in the ITA top 25.
“What a great honor and recognition for these young women to be invited to the NCAA singles and doubles championships,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “It’s just great notice for the team and a great honor for Vanderbilt. I’m just thrilled and proud of all four of them.”
Men’s Tennis Selections:
For the second year in a row senior Gonzales Austin will make an appearance in both the NCAA singles and doubles tournament. As a 9-16 seed in singles, Austin earns automatically earns All-American accolades. Not only does Austin earned honors in singles, but doubles as well as he and partner Rhys Johnson are a top eight seed heading into the doubles tournament.
The 2015 doubles tournament will be Johnson’s first NCAA journey outside team competition and with a top-eight seed Johnson and Austin are All-Americans in tandems. Johnson and Austin are only the second VU duo to earn All-American status, with Austin and Ryan Lipman being the first last season.
Earning All-American accolades in both singles and doubles, Austin is the first Commodore to earn both honors twice, let alone back-to-back.
“It’s the second year in a row that AJ (Austin) will be an All-American in singles and doubles,” said head coach Ian Duvenhage, “which is a pretty special honor and one that he has earned and deserves. I’m also very happy for Rhys (Johnson). It’s good to have multiple All-Americans, and by getting a seed in doubles he’s automatically a doubles All-American. I hope that they can build off this and use it in their post-season, not only team wise, but individually as well.”