Men’s Tennis Stuns No. 6-Ranked Ole Miss, 4-3 3/23/03
Reynolds becomes Vanderbilt’s all-time single-season victory record holder

OXFORD, Miss. - Vanderbilt head coach Ken Flach entered the 2002-03 season with high expectations for his team. Flach's team has not disappointed in meeting those expectations, as his squad picked up possibly their biggest win since he took over the reigns seven years ago on Sunday afternoon. The 14th-ranked Commodores stunned the sixth-ranked Rebels of Ole Miss, 4-3, at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center. With the win, the Commodores improve to 13-2 overall and 4-2 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Rebels fall to 12-3 overall and also 4-2 in the conference.

The doubles point proved to be the decisive point in the match, and once again the Commodores were able to capitalize. Vanderbilt has now won 14 of 15 doubles this season, as they swept all three doubles matches against the Rebels. The only time the Commodores lost the doubles point was last weekend to No. 2-ranked Florida.

Juniors Bobby Reynolds and Lewie Smith, who are ranked 43rd nationally, picked up an 8-5 victory over the 17th-ranked team of Alex Hartman and Claes Lindholm at the No. 1 position. Reynolds and Smith have now won three-straight SEC matches after losing their first two.

Vanderbilt seventh-ranked team of junior Chad Harris and sophomore Scott Brown continued to be pretty much unbeatable at the No. 2 position, as they eased by Caitlin Gard and Karim Alayli, 8-5. Juniors Zach Dailey and Jens Pilgram-Larsen closed things out by defeating Paul Ciorascu and Patrick Chucri, decisively, 8-4.

In singles, Dailey picked up a easy straight-set win over Alayli, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 5 position. Dailey’s victory clinched the team victory for the Commodores.

The Commodores other two wins came from Reynolds and Smith. The second-ranked Reynolds picked up a huge straight-set win over the 19th-ranked Hartman, 6-1, 6-2. With the win, Reynolds picked up his 32nd victory of the season. Besides holding the record for the most career singles victories, he also owns the record for the most singles win in a season. The previous mark was held by Chris Groer, who set the mark back in 1995.

Smith improved his dual-match record to 13-1, as he defeated Chucri in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. In the other three singles matches, the 13ht-ranked Harris was upset by Gard in three sets, while sophomore Matthew Lockin and Brown lost their matches in straight sets.

Vanderbilt returns to action at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, against SEC Western Division rival Louisiana State, who is ranked 27th nationally, in Baton Rouge, La. The Commodores will conclude their six-match roadtrip at 11 a.m. Sunday against non-conference foe Tulane, who is ranked No. 20, in New Orleans.

Singles

Doubles