Men’s Tennis Rolls by No. 75-Ranked Furman, 7-0 2/15/03
Commodores now set for dual with Ohio State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 28-ranked Vanderbilt men’s tennis team got back on the winning track by defeating No. 75-ranked Furman,7-0, on Saturday afternoon at the Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center. The Commodores were also able to avenge their 2002 loss to the Paladins last season in Greenville, S.C. With the win, Vanderbilt moves to 5-1 on the season, while Furman falls to 3-2.

The Commodores jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, as they swept the doubles competition for the fifth time in six dual matches. Vanderbilt has now won doubles point in all of its matches, and has won 17 of its 18 doubles matches. Juniors Bobby Reynolds and Lewie Smith remained undefeated in dual-match action, as they defeated James Cameron and Patrick Fillnow, 8-5. At the No.2 doubles position, junior Chad Harris and sophomore Scott Brown cruised by Andrew Rogers and Dasef Weems, 8-4. During the match, Harris slipped on the baseline and fell on his wrist. He remained in the match, which him and Brown were able hold on and win. Juniors Zach Dailey and Jens Pilgram-Larsen flew by Chris Henderson and Allen Simmons at the No. 3 position, 8-2.

Reynolds returned to singles action for possibly the most exciting match of the day. The junior was able gut out a difficult 7-6, 7-6 win over Cameron. In both sets, Reynolds fell behind a break only to battle back and capture each set. With the win, he has now won 23 singles matches this season and is 4-0 in dual matches.

Hurt wrist and all, Harris battled through the pain to easily defeat Fillnow in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 2 position. Junior Matt Lockin ended a two-match losing streak by defeating Henderson, 6-3, 6-4. The University of Michigan transfer dropped both of his singles matches last weekend in three sets.

Despite being pushed to three sets, Dailey really had no major problems in defeating Rogers, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. Brown and Smith both notched straight-set wins at the No. 5 and 6 positions, respectively.

The Commodores will now return to action at 12 p.m. Sunday for a meeting with No. 24-ranked Ohio State, who is coming a difficult 4-3 loss to No. 14-ranked Alabama on Friday. Vanderbilt and Ohio State split in their two meetings last season. The Buckeyes won the regular-season meeting, while the Commodores won their match in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Singles

Doubles