3/18/2015 2:26:00 PM | Men's Tennis
| BNP Paribas Collegiate Tennis Challenge | |
| Date Venue Location Social Hashtags Match Notes |
March 20-22 Indian Wells Tennis Garden Indian Wells, California @GoColumbiaLions | @ColumbiaMTennis #TurnItBlue Columbia Notes |
NEW YORK – The No. 29 Columbia men's tennis team embarks on a west coast trip to compete at the BNP Open Collegiate Challenge presented by Oracle March 20-22 in Indian Wells, California. The Lions will open the tournament against No. 28 California Friday, March 20 at 2 p.m. at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
STAY SOCIAL
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Columbia Athletics by connecting with the Lions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use hashtags #TurnItBlue or #RoarLionRoar for an insider's look at Columbia's teams and student-athletes.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST
Joining Columbia and Cal at the challenges is top-ranked Oklahoma, No. 3 Baylor, No. 4 USC, No. 20 Tulsa, BYU and Purdue.
LOWDOWN ON THE NO. 29 LIONS (6-3)
After three straight weeks at home, the Lions headed out on the road to face its seventh top-25 opponent this season in then-No. 23 Northwestern. Columbia took the Wildcats the distance, but could not hold on as the host prevailed 4-3 and the Lions slipped to 6-3 overall.
The Lions top court features the 16th-ranked racquet of Winston Lin. In dual matches this season, the senior has accumulated a 6-2 mark in matches that have reached a decision to lead Columbia's 34-17 singles record. Mike Vermeer boasts a team-best 4-0 records off wins on the third, fifth and sixth courts. Ashok Narayana and Bert Vancura have also split their time on multiple courts with the former holding a 5-2 mark and the latter sitting at 5-3. Dragos Igant, the 83rd-ranked singles player, meanwhile, has held down the second slot with a 5-3 dual mark.
Columbia has captured the doubles point in five of nine outs with No. 57 Vermeer and Lin leading the way with an undefeated 7-0 mark with six wins coming on court two. Vermeer also appears in the national rankings with his sophomore partner Richard Pham at 42. Vancura and Igant have also excelled for the Lions in doubles as the senior-junior duo paired up for a 5-2 mark. Max Schnur teams up with Narayana in doubles to represent Columbia blue in the top-20 at No. 20.
SCOUTING NO. 28 CALIFORNIA (9-4, 0-0 PAC-12)
The Golden Bears enter Friday's match against Columbia after a 4-2 setback to San Diego State that moved them to 9-4 on the season. California is stellar on its home courts (7-2) and is just 1-1 away from home and at neutral sites.
California's ace, Andrew Goransson, is 5-2 in dual match play and 17-7 overall this season. The Golden Bears doubles tandem of Gregory Bayane and Chase Melton has an 11-10 record and 7-5 mark on court one in dual action.
WE MEET AGAIN
Columbia and California will be on the opposite side of the net of the Golden Bears for the second time this season as the two teams met for the first time in the consolation draw at the ITA Men's Team National Indoor Championships in February. Columbia prevailed over Cal, 4-3, to take down the then-ranked No. 12 Golden Bears.
Columbia captured the doubles point for the first time in the season in the program's first meeting in 2015 and took the first, fifth and sixth singles court to record a 4-3 victory over California.
MORE READING: No. 15 Men's Tennis Prevails Over No. 12 Cal, 4-3, at ITA Men's Team National Indoor Championship
SWEEPING
Columbia swept Binghamton and Monmouth in its Feb. 21 and Feb. 27 to post back-to-back sweeps for the first time this season and first time since blanking Penn and Princeton in straight contests last season to capture the Ivy League Championship. A year ago, the Lions notched 13 clean sheets.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
For the past decade Columbia has put on a show for its home crowd posting a 61-7 record at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center including five undefeated home seasons. Currently, the Lions ride a 19-match win streak under the roof of the tennis center, dating back to Feb. 1, 2013. This season Columbia is on the road to its sixth unbeaten mark as it sits 3-0 in the friendly confines of the tennis center.
IN THE RANKINGS
Columbia sits at No. 29 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Poll this week after rising as high as No. 11 Feb. 17, its highest ranking in program history. The Lions are one of six Ivy League teams in the top-50.
As of March 10, Columbia singles players, Winston Lin ranks 16th in the ITA followed by Dragos Ignat at 83rd. In doubles, Max Schnur and Ashok Narayana rank 23rd in the country while Mike Vermeer is on the 42nd and 57th doubles teams with Richard Pham and Winston Lin, respectively.
| DATE Jan. 6 Jan. 20 Jan. 28 Feb. 3 Feb. 17 Feb. 24 March 3 March 10 March 17 |
Rank 16 16 13 15 11 13 15 23 29 |
RELATED LINK: ITA RANKINGS
REWRITING HISTORY
Just about a month into the season, the Lions have already rewritten the program's history books. Here are a few highlights of what Columbia has already accomplished in 2014-15:
· Won ITA Kick-Off Weekend for the first time since appearing in the event seven years ago.
· Earned the first bid to ITA National Team Indoors for the first time in 20 years.
· Defeated the highest ranked opponent in then-No. 14 Notre Dame, 4-3, in the ITA Kick-Off Championship Jan. 25.
· Upstaged its defeat of then 14th-ranked Fighting Irish, with a 4-3 victory over then-No. 12 Cal in the back draw of ITA National Team Indoors Feb. 14.
· Earned the program's highest ITA Ranking at No. 11.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 23 Columbia men's tennis saw its three-match win streak halted in a match that came down to the final player, as the Lions could not overcome No. 16 Northwestern Saturday afternoon at the Combe Tennis Center.
Each doubles court was decided by a 6-3 decision with the Wildcats taking the first and third courts to carry a 1-0 lead into singles action.
Shawn Hadavi, Winston Lin and Mike Vermeer quickly righted the ship for the Lions as they each won their singles court to put the Lions up, 3-1. Columbia could not carry its momentum, however, as Northwestern won the remaining courts to take the match, 4-3.
MORE READING: No. 23 Men's Tennis Edged at No. 16 Northwestern, 4-3
UP NEXT
The Lions will open their Ivy League slate in the friendly confines of the Dick Savitt Tennis Saturday, March 28 versus Cornell. The Ancient Eight opener for Columbia is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
