NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bringing together men’s and women’s tennis alumni who shaped a championship legacy and Vandy United supporters whose generosity empowers current and future Commodores, Vanderbilt unveiled the newest enhancements to the Lummis Family Tennis Center’s outdoor facilities. Sunday’s ceremony prior to the men’s match against Georgia also featured the dedication of 12 named outdoor courts.
“The Lummis Family Tennis Center embodies the vision behind Vandy United,” said Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “From alumni who set the standard, including our current men’s and women’s head coaches, to current student-athletes who just months ago played for an NCAA doubles championship to supporters like the Lummis family, the Speyer family and all those who stepped up to meet the moment, this is what’s possible with your unwavering support. And we aren’t done yet. Inspired by the example of those whom these courts now honor, we are dedicated to creating the conditions for sustainable excellence while holding fast to our values. Our men’s and women’s teams aren’t satisfied, and neither are we.”
An early pillar of the Vandy United vision, enhancements to the Lummis Family Tennis Center improve the student-athlete and fan experience. Notable features include new lighting for the newly resurfaced 12 outdoor courts, ornamental perimeter fences and gates that enhance the aesthetic presence in the Frist Athletics Village and fan amenities such as more fixed chair-back seating options, wheelchair-accessible observation areas, additional patio spaces, shaded areas and viewing spines between courts.
Fred and Claudia Lummis, both BA’76, and their sons—Fred III, Dan, BA’05, and Ben, BA’08—made the project’s lead gift with the goal of inspiring gifts from other alumni and donors. Fred Lummis is a former captain on the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team.
“It’s wonderful for Claudia and me to see so many people come together to not only celebrate Vanderbilt tennis but secure the future for these teams,” said Fred Lummis, founder and chairman of Platform Partners LLC. “I was lucky enough to start out as a walk on and compete at the highest level of college tennis, which taught me a lot of lifelong lessons. By creating a center of tennis excellence, we hope our fellow alumni Scott Brown and Aleke Tsoubanos will be able to continue recruiting the best and brightest and preparing them for lifelong success.”
Honoring the collaborative energy fueling the effort, leading National Commodore Club supporters had the opportunity to name the 12 outdoor courts. From some of the longest standing and most passionate fans in Commodore Nation to beloved legends including the late Julie Ditty Qualls, a member of the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame, the courts now tell their own story of the history of the programs and the community behind them.
Upper Row of Courts
Court 1: The Speyer Family
Court 2: The John Ingram Family
Court 3: Julie Ditty Qualls
Court 4: Fletcher Lance
Court 5: The Pao Family
Court 6: Keith Mumford
Lower Row of Courts
Court 7: Cody Davis (’81) and Elizabeth Davis (’86)
Court 8: Ian Duvenhage
Court 9: Ken Flach
Court 10: Sam Macdonald
Court 11: Nathan “Whitt” Taber
Court 12: Bill Tym
“It’s inspiring to see these courts named for deeply committed supporters, respected mentors, remarkable athletes and dear friends,” women’s head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “Across our programs, Vanderbilt tennis is a family. We share more than these wonderful new facilities. We share a commitment to be the best that spans generations and rests on the support of a community that always cares about our development on and off the court. I can’t think of a better reminder each time we take the court at home that playing for Vanderbilt is both a privilege and the opportunity of a lifetime.”
The Vanderbilt men’s team is ranked No. 13 in the most recent ITA poll, while the women’s team is ranked No. 12 in the ITA poll and defeated top-ranked Georgia on March 6. It marks the first time since 2014 that both teams are ranked this high at the same time.
“Everything about today fuels me to keep moving forward toward our goals,” men’s head coach Scott Brown said. “Facilities demonstrate a sense of purpose on the part of a university, and that matters more than ever in recruiting and retaining elite student-athletes. Starting with the incredible Lummis family, our supporters have stepped up in a big way to begin reimagining our home for the next era of Vanderbilt tennis. As alumni, Aleke and I know what is possible when the Vanderbilt community is behind you. We’re grateful to everyone involved and eager to take the next steps.”
Vandy United’s recently launched $300 million next chapter includes additional enhancements for the Lummis Family Tennis Center’s indoor facilities—completing the mission of creating a home for champions. Bringing the new enhancements to life relies on Commodore Nation’s shared commitment, and the university encourages supporters to make a gift of any size to support the effort.
About Vandy United
A key initiative in the university’s Dare to Grow campaign, Vandy United’s initial phase raised more than $370 million. The university is working on major facilities and operational enhancements, including the Frist Athletics Village, ambitious renovations for Hawkins Field and the Lummis Family Tennis Center. Through the Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success and other efforts, Vandy United has funded scholarships and support programs to ensure that Vanderbilt student-athletes are poised for success in every way. To learn more about this historic campaign and make a gift, visit the new Vandy United hub.
About Dare to Grow
Vanderbilt’s ongoing Dare to Grow campaign surpassed its original goal of $3.2 billion 20 months ahead of schedule and has now exceeded $3.8 billion. Support for the campaign continues to fuel our most ambitious vision: to be the great university of the 21st century. Learn more at vu.edu/daretogrow.
About Anchored for Her
Vanderbilt launched Anchored for Her to honor its pioneering female student-athletes and cement the university’s place as the premier destination for women’s sports ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of its varsity women’s teams. Bolstered by lead gifts from Vanderbilt Board of Trust members Nina Kohler and Kathleen Justice-Moore, JD’91, Anchored for Her’s initial $50 million goal will fuel investment in sustainable success for a new era of collegiate athletics through facility enhancements, endowed scholarships, coaching and staff positions, capital support and naming opportunities, team-specific Excellence Funds, the Women’s Athletics General Fund and the Competitive Excellence Fund.
