NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fifth-year transfer Henry Ruger and senior Michael Ross have been named captains of the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team ahead of the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships hosted by Purdue.
“We are thrilled and excited to announce both guys as our captains for this year,” head coach Scott Brown said. “Michael is a veteran of this program, and I have been impressed with the progress he has made since I arrived last year. It has been great to see him take more ownership and responsibility in leading, and I am excited to see how he evolves throughout the season.”
“Henry brings a wealth of experience from being captain at Columbia University last season and leading the Lions to the Elite Eight, which is their program’s best result in NCAA tournament history,” Brown continued. “He is a natural-born leader that is phenomenal at leading by example and holding his teammates accountable. Both Geoff [Hernandez] and I are excited to see how this team grows throughout the season with Michael and Henry as our captains.”
Both players have overcome change and adversity ahead of this season. Ruger spent all four undergraduate years at Columbia, racking up 95 total wins in his career as a Lion, including an 18-6 doubles mark last year as a senior. Ross began his career with his sister, Anna, on the women’s team and head coach Ian Duvenhage, Vanderbilt’s all-time winningest men’s coach, at the helm of the program. Four years later, his sister is now a graduate and Duvenhage was replaced with Brown.
“Scott coming in last year was definitely a big shift for the program, and with any new leadership, there’s a bit of an adjustment period,” Ross said. “But it’s been a really positive change. Scott brought a new energy and approach, and it’s been great for all of us. As a leader, I’ve tried to embrace that change and help the younger guys adapt. I know what it’s like to go through transitions, so I’ve focused on making sure everyone is on the same page and that we’re building a strong team culture where everyone has each other’s backs.”
“Coming from Columbia as a graduate transfer, I wasn’t necessarily expecting to be named a captain, but I did want to help in any way I could to lead the team,” Ruger said. “It means a lot to have earned the trust of the coaches and my teammates so quickly. I’m really excited for the opportunity that Mike and I have.”
Despite the uncertainties, both…