May 21, 2008
TULSA, Okla. – Playing in the NCAA Singles Championship for the third season in a row, Vanderbilt senior Ryan Preston dropped his first round match to top-seeded Somdev Devvarman of Virginia, 6-1, 6-3, on Wednesday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
Ranked No. 53 in singles, Preston couldn’t have drawn a more difficult first round opponent than Devvarman, who won the 2007 NCAA Singles Championship and is now 38-1 on the season.
After losing the first set 6-1, Preston hung with Devvarman for most of the second set. At one time, the score was tied at three before Devvarman won the final three games to clinch the set (6-3) and the match.
With the loss, Preston ended the 2008 season with a 15-17 overall record and 11-12 mark in dual play. The Northbrook, Ill., native also closed his career with a 1-3 record in his three appearances in the NCAA Singles Championship.
Despite the loss, Preston has already accomplished more in his career than most any other player in Vanderbilt history. A first team All-SEC selection in 2008, Preston is just the fourth player in school history to earn three All-SEC honors.
Preston closes his career with a 62-46 overall record and a 46-36 mark in dual play, having spent the last three years of his career in the No. 1 singles position.
NCAA Singles Championship
First Round in Tulsa, Okla.
Michael D. Case Tennis Center
No. 1 Somdev Devvarman, Virginia def. No. 53 Ryan Preston, Vanderbilt, 6-1, 6-3
