NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fifth-year transfer Henry Ruger and senior Michael Ross have been named captains of the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team ahead of the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships hosted by Purdue.
“We are thrilled and excited to announce both guys as our captains for this year,” head coach Scott Brown said. “Michael is a veteran of this program, and I have been impressed with the progress he has made since I arrived last year. It has been great to see him take more ownership and responsibility in leading, and I am excited to see how he evolves throughout the season.”
“Henry brings a wealth of experience from being captain at Columbia University last season and leading the Lions to the Elite Eight, which is their program’s best result in NCAA tournament history,” Brown continued. “He is a natural-born leader that is phenomenal at leading by example and holding his teammates accountable. Both Geoff [Hernandez] and I are excited to see how this team grows throughout the season with Michael and Henry as our captains.”
Both players have overcome change and adversity ahead of this season. Ruger spent all four undergraduate years at Columbia, racking up 95 total wins in his career as a Lion, including an 18-6 doubles mark last year as a senior. Ross began his career with his sister, Anna, on the women’s team and head coach Ian Duvenhage, Vanderbilt’s all-time winningest men’s coach, at the helm of the program. Four years later, his sister is now a graduate and Duvenhage was replaced with Brown.
“Scott coming in last year was definitely a big shift for the program, and with any new leadership, there’s a bit of an adjustment period,” Ross said. “But it’s been a really positive change. Scott brought a new energy and approach, and it’s been great for all of us. As a leader, I’ve tried to embrace that change and help the younger guys adapt. I know what it’s like to go through transitions, so I’ve focused on making sure everyone is on the same page and that we’re building a strong team culture where everyone has each other’s backs.”
“Coming from Columbia as a graduate transfer, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to be named a captain, but I did want to help in any way I could to lead the team,” Ruger said. “It means a lot to have earned the trust of the coaches and my teammates so quickly. I’m really excited for the opportunity that Mike and I have.”
Despite the uncertainties, both Ruger and Ross have used their adversities to develop into leaders of the program. This has not just been evident in their preparation, but their play as well. Ruger is coming off a doubles run with sophomore Hugo Coquelin at the ITA All-American Championships, where the pair won five straight matches en route to the round of 16. Ross, paired with Nathan Cox, won the White draw at the SEC Challenge to start the season.
“Building chemistry with the team has been really easy process,” Ruger said. “I think it helps that I was here with several of my teammates over the summer and built relationships with some of them then. The whole team is really close with each other, and it is great to be part of this group.”
“This offseason, I made a conscious effort to really dial in on areas where I could improve, both physically and mentally,” Ross said. “I stayed in Nashville for most of the summer, training with the coaches and some of the guys, while balancing a nine-to-five internship. It meant early morning lifts and late-night practices, or sometimes the other way around, but I really embraced the grind. I spent a lot of time focusing on my fitness on and off the court, and I enjoyed pushing myself through those long days.”
The Dores continue with their fall season after seeing multiple players have tournament success thus far. They look to replicate that at the regional tournament with tickets to the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships in November on the line.
“Heading into regionals, I know we’re going to compete with everything we’ve got,” Ross said. “We’ve been putting in the work on the court and in the gym, and I feel confident that we can perform at a high level. My expectation is that we go out there and leave it all on the court, not just for ourselves, but for each other. I want us to approach every match with the mindset that nothing is given, it’s earned.” Ruger echoed that sentiment: “Regionals is another great opportunity for us to play competitive matches and continue improving as a team,” he said. “We will learn a lot from these matches and continue to build toward our goals for the spring.”
As for the future of the program, a new coach’s focus typically revolves around the players ‘buying in.’ And despite just one season at Vanderbilt under his belt, it seems Brown has accomplished that so far. “I want to make sure that we’re all pushing each other to be our best, both on and off the court, and creating a strong bond that will carry us through our toughest battles,” Ross said of the culture. “[…] I truly believe we’re building something special, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
The Commodores are set to open play today in West Lafayette, Indiana at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships. Doubles action begins at 7:30 a.m. CT with singles play to follow. The tournament runs through Oct. 14.
