Reynolds Advances, Harris Upset in NCAA Singles Championship 5/21/03
Doubles Competition Kicks Off on Thursday for Two VU Teams

ATHENS, Ga. - Less than 24 hours after the Vanderbilt men’s tennis team dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to top-ranked Illinois in the NCAA Team Championship, two Commodores were back in action for the NCAA Singles Championship at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Ironically enough, the two Vanderbilt players would compete with two Illinois players.

Junior Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.), the tournament’s top seed, was able to get back 20th-ranked Phil Stolt in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Reynolds, who was named the NCAA’s Most Valuable Player in the team tournament, improves his 2002-03 overall record to 45-6 (.882 winning percentage). He will head into tomorrow’s Round of 32 match having won 12 straight matches and 34 of his last 35.

Reynolds will have a difficult test on Thursday, as he will have rematch with Baylor’s Benjamin Becker. The two squared off on Sunday, May 18, in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. While the match was suspended due to the Commodores clinching the team victory, Becker led Reynolds 3-2 in the third set. Becker squeaked out a three-set win over Ole Miss’ Paul Ciorascu on Wednesday, 6-1, 0-6, 6-4.

Junior Chad Harris (Aurora, Colo.), who was seeded 9-16 alphabetically in the tournament, was upset by the Fighting Illini’s Rajeev Ram in three grueling sets, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5. Despite the loss, Harris had an outstanding season for the Commodores. He finished the year with a singles record of 34-11. Harris season included being named All-SEC First Team and NCAA Tournament All-Championship team at No. 2 singles.

Reynolds and Harris will be back in action for the doubles competition on Thursday. Reynolds will join junior Lewie Smith (Memphis, Tenn.), as they will take on Jamie Cerratani and Chris Drake of Brown. Harris will team up with sophomore Scott Brown (St. Louis, Mo.) to take on North Carolina’s Trystan Meniane and Nicholas Monroe.