NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Each week This Week on West End takes a closer look at what’s in store for the Commodores in the coming days.
It’s a busy week for the Commodores starting Monday and Tuesday as the women’s golf team competes in Florida for a two-day, 54-hole event and the men’s basketball team is back in Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
Both Vandy tennis teams will be in action all weekend with a pair of matches for both the men and women. Vanderbilt track and field also hosts a a two-day event starting Friday.
The men’s golf team makes its 2021 debut starting Friday and the lacrosse team opens its 2021 season with a challenging trip to No. 2 Notre Dame. Vanderbilt bowling also returns to the lanes this weekend.
Here’s more of all the other happenings around West End this week:
Men’s basketball
Vanderbilt will try to get back on the winning track at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Auburn (10-10, 4-7 SEC) at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Commodores came up just short at Georgia on Saturday evening in a 73-70 defeat. That score marked the third time this season Vandy has dropped an SEC game by three points or less.
Dylan Disu led Vanderbilt (5-9, 1-7 SEC) against Georgia with 15 points and six rebounds while Jordan Wright added 12.
After facing Auburn on Tuesday, the Dores get back on the road for a game at Mississippi State (11-9, 5-6 SEC) at noon Sunday.
Lacrosse
It has been almost a year since the Vanderbilt lacrosse team has taken the field, but that will change at 11 a.m. CT Saturday when the Commodores travel to No. 2 Notre Dame.
The season-opener for Vandy and coach Beth Hewitt’s team will feature seniors Gabby Fornia and Karlie Bucci on the attack, midfielder Bri Gross and Paige Gunning in goal.
After Saturday’s match, Vanderbilt will hold its home opener Feb. 21 when Colorado comes to town.
Women’s golf
Vanderbilt hit the course Monday for its 2021 debut at the FAU Paradise Invitational.
The Commodores are competing in the two-day, 54-hole event and have Auston Kim back in the lineup after the junior opted out of the fall campaign.
Vandy will go up against 12 other teams at the Boca Lago Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.
Women’s tennis
The Vanderbilt women’s tennis squad is now 6-0 on the season after a dominating weekend against East Tennessee State and Lipscomb. The 15th-ranked Commodores won both matches 7-0 and are now 39-3 in all matches played this spring.
Holly Staff now leads with the squad with 10 wins while Marcella Cruz and Anessa Lee have nine each.
With one more weekend of nonconference play on the docket, Vanderbilt will challenge itself with matches against ACC competition. First, the Dores will host Louisville at 3 p.m. Friday before closing the weekend with a visit to No. 6 Georgia Tech on Sunday.
Men’s golf
Head coach Scott Limbaugh will lead his team into 2021 with its first event of the spring – the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.
The Commodores had an impressive fall by winning the Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate and finishing second after a playoff at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. This spring Vandy will have a bit of a new look after senior standout John Augenstein turned to professional golf in December.
Track and Field
After another stellar performance Friday at the Arkansas Qualifier, Vanderbilt hosts the Music City Challenge starting Friday on West End.
Vandy set five program records in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and sophomore Madison Fuller became the second Commodore ever to break 7.6 in the 60 meters.
Vanderbilt now looks toward its final scheduled meet before the SEC Championships with the two-day Music City Challenge at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center starting Friday.
Men’s tennis
Vanderbilt men’s tennis completed an impressive weekend with wins over Lipscomb and Rice.
The victory Saturday over Lipscomb (6-1) gave coach Ian Duvenhage his 200th career win as Vanderbilt’s head coach. Sunday’s triumph over Rice moved the Dores to 3-0 while Macsen Sisam was part of both a singles and doubles win.
Vandy returns to the Currey Tennis Center at 11 a.m. Saturday to host Illinois State and then faces Memphis at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Bowling
The Vanderbilt bowling team will take part in its second tournament of 2021 when it travels to Dallas for the Bulldog Classic hosted by Louisiana tech. The three-day event begins Friday.
Vandy took part in the Lady Techsters Invite in January and finished fourth while Samantha Gainor was named MVP.