Feb. 26, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13 Vanderbilt begins SEC action this weekend as the squad hosts both of the SEC’s Mississippi school. The `Dores take on the No. 63 Mississippi State Bulldogs Friday at 4 p.m. On Sunday Vanderbilt faces off against the No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels at 1 p.m.
“The key to SEC play is to just work,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “It’s a grind and a lot of traveling tennis, but we really want to try to get a little better and a little fitter each day.
The Commodores currently own a 5-4 mark on the season and boast undefeated 4-0 record at home. Vanderbilt has yet to compete against an unranked team, earning experience in every match.
Vandy earned a solid win last Sunday as the Commodores upset then No. 6 Baylor in a 4-3 win. The victory gave the `Dores a nice boost with SEC play around the corner.
Vanderbilt boasts five ranked singles players in the latest ITA polls. Sophomore Sydney Campbell leads the `Dores at No. 19; Campbell is followed by Marie Casares (63), Astra Sharma (98), Courtney Colton (103), and Frances Altick (123).
Vandy is also home to two ranked doubles duos in No. 19 Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell and No. 33 Ashleigh Antal and Astra Sharma.
Scouting the Bulldogs:
Mississippi State travels to West End with a near perfect 9-1 record; their sole loss coming at the hands of Dartmouth on Jan. 25th.
The No. 63 team in the country boasts one ranked singles play in No. 75 Georgiana Patrasc. The Bulldog junior is currently 9-1 in the No. 1 spot of the MSU lineup.
In their last meeting, the Commodores shut down the Bulldogs in a 4-2 victory.
Scouting the Rebels:
The Rebels sit just two sports behind the Commodores in the ITA polls, coming in at No. 15. Ole Miss has a talented squad on their hands with three ranked singles players in the Top-110. Julia Jones leads the Rebels at No. 15, followed by Arianna Hartono (43) and Mai El Kamash (109)
The Commodores competed against the Rebs this fall as the squad took part in the Ole Miss Fall Invitational. Most recently No. 15 Julia Jones defeated Campbell 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in consolation play as both athletes earned seeds in the National Indoor Intercollegiate Champs on Nov. 7th.
In their last dual match meeting Vandy came out victorious over Ole Miss with a close 4-3 win in Oxford.
