April 2, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 19th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis squad will play its last two regular season home matches this weekend as it plays host to Mississippi State on Friday at 2:30 p.m., before hosting Ole Miss on Sunday at 12 p.m. Both of the matches will be held at the Currey Tennis Center on Vanderbilt’s campus. The Commodores look to keep their two match winning streak alive this weekend against the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rebels.
Vanderbilt (7-5, 3-2 SEC) leads the all-time series with Mississippi State 21-7, including winners of 18 straight over the Lady Bulldogs. VU head coach Geoff Macdonald is a perfect 15-0 against MSU as Vanderbilt’s head coach.
The `Dores are coming off one of its best week’s of the spring season as it defeated No. 31 Auburn and No. 17 Alabama in a pair of crucial SEC matches. Vanderbilt has seen recent success due to its improving doubles play and ability to get out to an early 1-0 lead over Alabama and Auburn last week.
Mississippi State (9-5, 0-5 SEC) continues its rough stretch against tough opponents this weekend as it will take on No. 20 Kentucky two days after they square off against the Commodores. MSU comes to Nashville this weekend after suffering two 6-1 setbacks to South Carolina and Florida.
Ole Miss will take on 20th-ranked Kentucky on Friday before coming to Nashville to take on the Commodores on Sunday. The Lady Rebels (9-6, 2-4 SEC) are led by freshman Kristi Boxx. Boxx’s is ranked No. 29 in singles and owns an 8-2, 4-2 SEC record at number one singles.
Friday’s match with MSU will mark senior day for Vanderbilt’s lone senior Courtney Ulery. In Ulery’s four years she has been apart of three NCAA Sweet 16 teams and has compiled an impressive career singles record of 88-46. Last season, the Wellington, Fla., native won a school record 20 consecutive singles matches and earned SEC Player of the Week honors for her stellar performance against Michigan and Notre Dame.
As a freshman, Ulery earned All-SEC Second Team honors after going 17-7 in singles and 10-1 against the SEC in doubles.
Live stats of Friday’s match between the Commodores and Bulldogs will be available via vucommodores.com or by clicking here.
