April 29, 2008
View NCAA women’s bracket | View NCAA men’s bracket
View Vanderbilt’s women’s tennis history in NCAA tournament
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the eighth time in school history and for the second year in a row, both Vanderbilt’s men’s and women’s tennis teams have been selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
The 64-team fields were announced on Tuesday during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPNews. Ranked No. 11, the women’s team (18-5, 7-4 Southeastern Conference) will be making its 14th straight appearance in the tournament, while the 29th-ranked men’s team (13-9, 4-7 SEC) will be making its seventh trip in the last eight years.
The women’s team is seeded No. 11 and will host a first and second round regional for the 10th straight year. The Commodores will host Indiana State on Friday, May 9 at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Currey Tennis Center. Earlier that same day, Kentucky and Boise State will square off in the other first round match at 10 a.m. (CT). The winners of the two matches will play each other in the second round on Saturday, May 10 at 12 p.m. (CT).
“We are delighted to be hosting a regional,” Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “It’s a huge honor. We’re very happy that our seniors will be able to be here for graduation.”
The Commodores have an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 30-13 (.698 winning percentage). Vanderbilt will be looking to make its 10th straight appearance in the round of 16. Vanderbilt has proven tough to beat at the Currey Tennis Center in the postseason, compiling a perfect 18-0 record in the NCAA Tournament since 1999.
The `Dores have defeated 11 ranked teams on the season, including a 4-3 road victory at then-No. 2 Georgia Tech.
Indiana State has a 13-6 record and is currently ranked 70th by the ITA. The Sycamores earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Wichita State, 4-3, in the championship match of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Indiana State has won 11 consecutive matches and finished the MVC regular season with a perfect 8-0 record.
“Indiana State is a very good team,” Macdonald added. “They have a lot of really good players, so we will start preparing for them.”
Tickets for the regional will be available to purchase on the day of the matches. Tickets are $5 general admission and $3 for students with a valid Vanderbilt ID.
Vanderbilt’s men’s team will travel to Oxford, Miss., to play its first round match against No. 38 Indiana (16-9, 5-5 Big Ten) on May 10. The winner of Vanderbilt’s match will then face either No. 4 Ole Miss or Marist in the second round.
“I don’t know much about Indiana, but I do know that they beat (No. 16) Michigan in the last two weeks, so they are dangerous,” Vanderbilt men’s tennis head coach Ian Duvenhage said. “If I had my druthers, I’d probably go somewhere else where we play teams that we haven’t played, but since we are playing somewhere in the SEC, I like that draw.”
Historically, Vanderbilt has had success in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In each of its previous seven trips, the Commodores have advanced to at least the second round.
Vanderbilt is 3-1 against the Big Ten this season with wins coming against No. 33 Wisconsin, Michigan State and Northwestern. Its lone loss came at Michigan. Tournament-host Ole Miss is seeded No. 5 in the 64-team field and is coming off an SEC Tournament title. Earlier this season, the Rebels defeated Vanderbilt, 6-1, in Nashville.
Last season, the Commodores advanced to the second round with a 4-2 upset over No. 18 Tulsa before falling to host LSU.
The Commodores have defeated 10 ranked opponents this season. All five of Vanderbilt’s wins against SEC teams have been by the score of 4-3.
Women’s Bracket
Nashville, Tenn. – Currey Tennis Center
Round 1 – Friday, May 9
10 a.m. -Kentucky vs. Boise State
1 p.m. – Vanderbilt vs. Indiana State
Round 2 – Saturday, May 10
12 p.m.
Men’s Bracket
Oxford, Miss.
Round 1 – Saturday, May 10
11 a.m. – Ole Miss vs. Marist
2 p.m. – Vanderbilt vs. Indiana
Round 2 – Sunday, May 11
12 p.m.
