Men's Tennis Defeats Georgia for First Time Since 1978 2/28/03
Commodores now set to host visiting Volunteers on Sunday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The losing streak is finally over for the Vanderbilt men's tennis team, as the 24th-ranked Commodores defeated No. 22-ranked Georiga for the first time since 1978 on Friday afternoon at the Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center, 7-0. With the win, the Commodores move to 8-1 overall and more importantly 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Bulldogs fall to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Vanderbilt got the early advantage, as it won the critical doubles point. Junior Chad Harris and Scott Brown got things going by defeating Stephan Timu and Raian Luchici, 8-1. The ninth-ranked team of Harris and Brown are now 11-1 on the season and 6-0 in dual matches.

Junior Zach Dailey and sophomore Matthew Lockin clinched the doubles point for the Commodores, as they defeated Strahinja Bobusic and William Glenn at the No. 2 spot, 8-3. Vanderbilt's only loss of the day came at the No. 1 doubles position, as juniors Bobby Reynolds and Lewie Smith lost a difficult match to Bo Hodge and Nicolas Boeker, 8-6.

The marquee singles match-up of the day slated fifth-ranked Reynolds against sixth-ranked Hodge. The Vanderbilt junior jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set and really never looked back. Reynolds cruised by Hodge in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to extend his winning streak to 16. He also made history by tying Vanderbilt graduate Andrew Nisker's career singles mark of 79. Reynolds will have the opportunity to take sole possession of the record on Sunday against Tennessee.

The No. 15-ranked Harris moved his dual-match singles record to 6-1, as he defeated Timu in straight sets at the No. 2 singles position, 6-2, 7-6. Harris and Reynolds have combined to win 47 singles matches during the 2002-03 season. Lockin had one of the more exciting wins of the afternoon, as he battled back from a set and 4-2 down to defeat Boeker, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5. He has now won four consecutive dual matches.

Dailey, Brown and Smith all played exceptional matches for head coach Ken Flach. Dailey defeated Bobusic at the No. 4 spot, 6-2, 6-4, Brown eased by Luchici at the No. 5 position, 6-3, 7-5 and Smith had no problems in defeating Jason Varela, 6-2, 6-1, at sixth singles spot.

The Commodores will take a four-match winning streak into Sunday's SEC match-up with rival Tennessee. The match is slated to start at 12 p.m. at the Currey Tennis Center. Tennessee dropped its SEC opener to Kentucky on Friday, 6-1.

Singles

Doubles