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 jam-packed week in Vanderbilt athletics with nearly every winter and spring sport in action each day this week.
Vanderbilt baseball, women’s golf and women’s tennis all kick off the week with Monday events. The Vandy baseball program will try to play seven games in seven days this week starting with a doubleheader against Wright State at noon Monday.
Vandy track and field has the SEC Championships ahead of it this weekend and the SEC champion Vanderbilt soccer team will be on display during an exhibition at Middle Tennessee on Monday. Commodore lacrosse, men’s golf and bowling are also among the teams scheduled to compete this week
Here’s more on all the other happenings around West End this week:
Baseball
Vanderbilt baseball will now attempt to play seven games in seven days after winter weather wreaked havoc on the start to the campaign.
Tim Corbin’s squad makes its 2021 debut at noon Monday in a doubleheader against Wright State out of the Horizon League. Vandy and the Raiders were scheduled to start a three-game series Friday but heavy snowfall last week left Hawkins Field covered in snow into Sunday evening.
Vanderbilt begins the season once again ranked among the top 10 in college baseball and will feature the arms of aces Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter.
After Monday’s action, Vandy is scheduled to welcome in Western Kentucky (0-0) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and will then open a four-game series against visiting Georgia State (2-2) at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Lacrosse
After trailing 9-6 in the second half to No. 24 Colorado on Sunday at the David Williams II Recreational and Wellness Center, Cassidy Orban scored the golden goal 1:15 into overtime to give Vanderbilt an 11-10 victory.
The Commodores (1-1) will look to keep that momentum going at 1 p.m. Wednesday when they welcome in Central Michigan (1-0). Vandy then hits the road for a 10 a.m. CT Saturday matchup at No. 1-ranked North Carolina (3-0).
Soccer
The highly-anticipated return of Vanderbilt soccer is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday when the Commodores travel down the road for an exhibition at Middle Tennessee.
Monday’s match is the first of two scheduled exhibitions for the SEC champions before opening a four-match regular season March 11. Vandy went 4-4 during the regular season in the fall before storming through the league tournament to win a title.
Men’s basketball
After another painfully close defeat, Vanderbilt returns to West End looking to end its home schedule on a high note.
The Commodores (6-12, 2-10 SEC) host rival Tennessee at 8 p.m. Wednesday before welcoming Ole Miss at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Vandy is coming off a four-point loss at No. 9 Alabama on Saturday and four-point loss to Kentucky last Wednesday.
No. 19 Tennessee (15-6, 8-6 SEC) defeated Vanderbilt 81-61 earlier this season. Saturday’s contest for Ole Miss (12-9, 8-4 SEC) will be Senior Day for the Dores.
Men’s golf
Head coach Scott Limbaugh will take his team to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the LSU Invitational. The three-day event is scheduled to run Friday-Sunday.
Vandy opened the 2021 spring slate earlier this month with a seventh-place finish at the rain-bothered Gators Invitational. William Moll had the team’s top finish there by coming in tied for 11th.
Women’s tennis
The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team had its two matches last week postponed. Head coach Aleke Tsoubanos‘ team is off to an 8-0 start.
Marcella Cruz, Holly Staff and Anessa Lee have all racked up 11 wins each in singles play while the tandem of Lee and Christina Rosca are 5-0 in doubles matches.
No. 15-ranked Vandy now begins SEC competition at noon Monday against LSU, the first of 13 straight schedule league contests. The Dores then host Auburn at 3 p.m. Friday and Alabama at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Bowling
The Vanderbilt bowlers were scheduled to participate over the weekend in the Mid-Winter Invitational in Jonesboro, Arkansas, but that event was postponed due to last week’s winter storm.
Instead, the Dores will hit the road this weekend for the Big Red Invitational hosted by Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Vandy bowling claimed its 39th team tournament title since 2006 with a win at the Bulldog Classic in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month. Mabel Cummins won the Most Valuable Player award in the event
Track and field
Vanderbilt track and field will be looking to put its best foot forward starting Friday at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center.
The Dores had two meets this month to prepare, the last of which was the Music City Challenge where Vandy set numerous program records.
The defending SEC Indoor women’s champion is Arkansas which has won 10 overall and six in a row.
Men’s tennis
Vandy’s men’s tennis squad will look to break a three-match losing streak this week when it travels to Auburn (1 p.m. Friday) and Alabama (1 p.m. Sunday).
The Commodores have been led by Marcus Ferreira’s eight wins in singles matches this season while Ferreira’s and Macsen Sisam have teamed up to win seven doubles games.
Vanderbilt dropped decisions to LSU and Texas A&M, respectively, last week.
Women’s golf
Vanderbilt continues play Monday at the Lady Gators Invitational after a rocky start Sunday. The Commodores shot 20-over-par and were in 11th place in a 14-team field.
Sophomore Celina Sattlekau, however, began the second round three strokes off the lead after an even-par 70 to open the event.
The Lady Gators Invitational is scheduled to run through Tuesday in Gainesville, Florida.
