March 29, 2018
The 22nd-ranked Vanderbilt men’s tennis team hosts its final two matches of the regular season this weekend, facing No. 6 Texas A&M Friday at 4 p.m. and LSU Sunday at noon.
Prior to first serve against the Tigers on Sunday, the Commodores will honor their four seniors; Tate Allwardt, Lachlan McPhee, Baker Newman and Daniel Valent.
VU heads into its last home stand with a 15-4 overall record, going 5-2 in Southeastern Conference play and earning an impressive 10-1 mark while competing at the Currey Tennis Center. All of VU’s losses have come against top-20 teams, with three setbacks coming in tight 4-3 decisions (at No. 1 Wake Forest, at No. 17 Columbia and vs. No. 12 Florida).
Last weekend the Dores fell to No. 13 Mississippi State (4-2) in Starkville, then rebounded to serve Auburn a 4-2 loss on The Plains.
Mason jars will be given out to the first 100 fans in attendance against Texas A&M. For updates and a behind the scenes look at the program, follow @vandymenstennis on Instagram.
Commodore Notables:
- The Dores have been ranked in the ITA top 25 for a month straight
- Previously this season, VU capped a 10-match win streak last weekend with a win over South Carolina
- The 10-match win streak was the longest since the 2002-03 season when the team went 27-4, won the SEC tournament and reached an NCAA championship final
- The Dores have a trio of ranked singles players; No. 22 Cameron Klinger, No. 56 Daniel Valent and No. 100 Baker Newman
- Klinger/Billy Rowe rank 46th in the ITA’s latest doubles poll
- Valent is nearing VU’s all-time singles victories record, sitting at 103 entering the weekend
- VU nominated George Harwell this week as the SEC’s Freshman Player of the Week
Aggie Advance:
- Texas A&M sits in the ITA top-10 at No. 6 in the nation
- The Aggies and Mississippi State are tied atop the SEC standings, both undefeated
- TAMU’s last loss came three matches ago against No. 11 Texas Christian in a 4-3 battle
- Freshman Patrick Kypson earned the SEC Freshman of the Week honor
- The Aggies are one of four schools with at least five players listed in the latest singles rankings. Leading the charge for the Aggies is No. 6 Arthur Rinderknech followed by No. 25 Valentin Vacherot, No. 37 Patrick Kypson, No. 49 Jordi Arconada and No. 105 AJ Catanzariti.
- In the doubles poll, Texas A&M is one of four schools with at least three tandems ranked, led by No. 19 Arconada/Carlos Aguilar, Arconada/Lam at No. 45 and Rinderknech/Kypson coming in at No. 48
- VU suffered a 6-1 setback in College Station last season
Testing the Tigers:
- Louisiana State owns an 8-10 overall record, with a 1-5 SEC slate
- LSU’s lone SEC win came over Alabama in a close 4-3 victory
- The Tigers went 0-2 last weened, falling to Georgia (0-4) and Memphis (2-5)
- The Tigers travel to Kentucky prior to Sunday’s match
- LSU men’s tennis co-head coach Andy Brandi has been named one of three Team USA Legendary Coaches the United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced Monday
- The Commodores fell in a close battle against LSU last season, 4-3