Men’s Tennis Picks Up Dual-Match Win Over Tulsa, 5-2 2/8/03
Commodores Now Prepare for SEC Opener Against Arkansas

TULSA, Okla. - The 25th-ranked Vanderbilt men’s tennis team was able to avenge its 1999 dual-match loss to Tulsa on Saturday afternoon, as it defeated the 51st-ranked Golden Hurricane, 5-2, at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center. With the win, the Commodores move their 2003 overall record to 4-0, while the Golden Hurricane fall to 3-3 on the season.

The Commodores jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after cruising through all three doubles matches. Juniors Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.) and Lewie Smith (Memphis, Tenn.) had no problems with Tulsa's Dustin Taylor and Ryan Livesay in the No. 1 doubles match, as the Vanderbilt duo won, 8-2.

Junior Chad Harris (Aurora, Colo.) and sophomore Scott Brown (St. Louis, Mo.) had an easier time at the No. 2 position, as they defeated Olof Sjolund and Shunsuke Shimizu handily, 8-1. Juniors Zach Dailey (Memphis, Tenn.) and Jens Pilgram-Larsen (Oslo, Norway) made it a complete sweep for head coach Ken Flach's squad. The two juniors defeated the Golden Hurricane's Alejandro Tejerina and Aleksandra Charpantidis, 8-5.

In singles action, Reynolds proved why he is one of the top collegiate players in the country, as he gutted out a tight two-set match over Tejerina, 6-4, 7-6. The eighth-ranked Reynolds now boasts a 2002-03 singles record of 21-5.

The Commodores did not have such good luck at the No. 2 and 3 singles spots, as Harris and sophomore Matthew Lockin (Lilburn, Ga.) were both upset in their singles matches. The 14th-ranked Harris fell to Taylor in three tight sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. The 99th-ranked Lockin also fell victim in three sets, as he lost to Livesay, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.

The lower half of Vanderbilt's singles lineup played solid tennis on Saturday. Dailey, Brown and Lewis were all victorious at the No. 4, 5 and 6 positions, respectively. Dailey defeated Shimiszu, 6-4, 6-2. Brown won in three sets over Charpantidis, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. Smith closed things out with a easy 6-1, 6-1 win over Sjolund.

The Commodores will open their Southeastern Conference schedule at 12 p.m. Sunday against No. 31-ranked Arkansas at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

Singles

Doubles