NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt men’s tennis team begins SEC play on Friday against No. 7 Kentucky at 1 p.m. Friday’s matchup marks the first of many outdoor matches at the Ensworth Tennis Center.
Last weekend saw the Dores split their matches against No. 53 Pepperdine and Lipscomb. The Waves took the early lead over the Commodores, going into singles with an advantage. Vanderbilt evened the score at 3 all, but Pepperdine clinched the match and posted a 4-3 win over Vandy. The Dores won the doubles point in the second match of the day and didn’t let up in singles, with a 7-0 victory over the Bisons.
In the updated ITA rankings this week, the Commodores were among the top 75 teams in the nation at No. 45.
Kentucky
The Wildcats have been climbing the charts, coming in at No. 7 in the latest ITA rankings. They have a record of 9-2 and are coming off two wins against Dayton on Wednesday of last week. Kentucky finished fifth among Division 1 teams last season and made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
Home Match Notes
Because of construction around Vanderbilt athletic facilities, all outdoor competitions for the spring 2024 season will be played at the Ensworth Tennis Center, about 20 minutes from campus at 7405 TN-100, Nashville, Tenn. 37221. In case of rain, matches will be moved indoors to the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Pavilion at the Lummis Family Tennis Center, and admission is free. Free parking is available in the 25th Avenue Garage through the Highland Avenue entrance. Vanderbilt tennis matches will enforce a clear bag policy.
Promotions/Giveaways: Friday’s promotions include a Lululemon and Starbucks gift card raffle. The last of the gift cards will be raffled, including three $75 Lululemon gift cards and four $25 Starbucks gift cards.
Up Next: The Commodores hit the road next week to face Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and then play Alabama at home on Sunday at 1 p.m.