Vanderbilt to Celebrate Seniors in Final Homestand

The Dores host in-state rival and No. 5 Tennessee on Sunday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team returns to the Currey Tennis Center on Sunday for what will be the last home match of the season for the Commodores.

As part of alumni weekend, Vandy hosts in-state and Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee, ranked fifth-nationally, at noon on Sunday. The team will send off a trio of seniors – Max Freeman, George Harwell and Macsen Sisam – with a ceremony prior to the match.

“Tennessee is an in-state and SEC rival, and we always get excited to play them, said head coach Ian Duvenhage. “It is also Senior Day for George Harwell, Max Freeman and Macsen Sisam. These three seniors have done a great deal for our Vanderbilt men’s tennis program and for that we are eternally grateful. We are going to try to give them a cherished memory on their last home match.”

Admission to the homestand is free of charge and parking is available on floors 9-11 of the 25th Avenue Garage (enter from Highland Avenue).

Vandy enters another challenging SEC test this weekend with a 14-8 record on the season and 11-4 at home. The Volunteers sit in a three-way tie for fifth in the current SEC standings, while having an overall record of 17-5 on the season and 5-1 away.

Marketing Promos and Giveaways – Senior Day and Alumni Weekend

  • Come Hungry: Fans that arrive early for our match against in-state and SEC rival Tennessee on Sunday will receive complimentary food truck items from PHAT PIZZA (while offer lasts). Food truck will open at 11:30 a.m., while first serve is set for noon.
  • Hats Off: Vanderbilt trucker hats will be available (while supplies last) for fans arriving early for our Senior Day match and alumni weekend on Sunday.

Senior Salute

Be sure to arrive early to the match as the senior class will be honored prior to the start of the noon match on Sunday. Vanderbilt will be recognizing three seniors – Max Freeman, George Harwell and Macsen Sisam. The senior ceremony will start approximately at 11:35 a.m. and will take place on the outdoor courts at the Currey Tennis Center.

The senior trio is accomplished both on and off the court. All three have been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll throughout their careers, while Harwell is also a two-time SEC honoree (Second Team and Freshman).

Debriefing

The Dores returned to the road last week for a challenging test against a pair of SEC East foes. Vandy started off the month of April with a pair of losses to the following top 10 teams – South Carolina, who was ranked No. 10 at the time, and Florida, who was the top-ranked team nationally at the time. The Gators continue to lead the SEC standings at an undefeated 9-0, while South Carolina is tied for second with top ten Georgia.

Junior Siim Troost was the bright spot of the weekend as the only player to put points on the board for the Dores. Troost went 2-0 at the No. 6 singles spot and is on a four-match win streak in singles play going into Sunday. The junior also holds a 13-5 dual record and is 7-2 in SEC play.

Vandy stands at 14-8 on the season, 11-4 at home and 2-7 in SEC play as they return to the Currey Tennis Center this weekend for their homestand and Senior Day against in-state and SEC rival Tennessee, who sits in fifth nationally.

Scouting the Opponent – No. 5 Tennessee (17-5, 5-3 SEC): The last time the Dores won over the Vols was April 15, 2018, in a 4-3 upset victory in Knoxville, Tennessee for their regular season finale. Vandy hasn’t won at the Currey Tennis Center against the Vols since March 5, 2017, which resulted in a narrow 4-3 win. The Vols had a good showing at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships held last February, picking up a trio of top 15 wins to advance to the final in Seattle. Currently, Tennessee is tied for fifth with Auburn and No. 24 Texas A&M in the SEC standings with a 5-3 conference record and 17-5 overall. Last Friday, the Vols clinched their 14th doubles point this season en route to a dominant win over the Razorbacks, 6-1. Individually, three Vols are ranked in the latest ITA singles rankings – No. 5 Johannus Monday, No. 14 Adam Walton and No. 45 Emile Hudd. In the doubles rankings, Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui come in at 19th nationally, while Pat Harper and Walton sit at No. 79.

ITA Rankings

  • In the current ITA team rankings, Vandy sits at No. 45 after its challenging SEC road test last weekend against a pair of top 10 teams – South Carolina, who was No. 10 at the time, and Florida, who was the top-ranked team nationally at the time.
  • Harwell, a fifth-year senior and No. 1 singles player, sits at No. 49 in the latest ITA singles rankings.
  • Troost and freshman Michael Ross moved four spots to 76th nationally, together the pair owns a 13-7 record on the top court.

Klopper Earned SEC Honors

The junior was named SEC Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Feb. 16.

A native of Bloemfontein, South Africa, Klopper, was honored for his 7-0 dual record at the time, which included three wins during the doubleheader against ACC foe Virginia Tech and The Citadel on Feb. 13. Klopper clinched the match against the Hokies in a two-set thriller, 7-6 (2), 6-4, on Court 2. Later in the afternoon, Klopper moved up to the top singles spot to defeat his Bulldogs opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.

Currently, he has a combined 41-16 record including 26-9 in singles and 15-7 in doubles. During the dual season, Klopper’s 21-11 record is highlighted by a 14-6 singles record.

For full press release, click here.

On the Radar

The Dores close out the final weekend of the regular season in the Magnolia State against a pair of ranked SEC West foes. Vandy will head to StarkVegas for a matchup against Mississippi State at 3 p.m. on April 15 before trekking to Oxford, Mississippi to face Ole Miss at 1 p.m. on April 17.