3/5/2015 10:09:00 AM | Men's Tennis
| vs. Monmouth (4-5, 0-0 MAAC) | |
| Date Time Venue Location Social Hashtags Match Notes |
Saturday, March 7 2 p.m. Dick Savitt Tennis Center New York, N.Y. @GoColumbiaLions | @ColumbiaMTennis #TurnItBlue Columbia Notes |
NEW YORK – The 15th-ranked Columbia men's tennis team closes its three-match homestand Saturday, March 7 when the Lions entertain the Hawks of Monmouth at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
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LOWDOWN ON THE NO. 15 LIONS (5-2)
The winner of two straight, No. 13 Columbia holds a 5-2 record in dual matches this season with three wins coming over top-20 opponents. The Lions most recent victory came in the form of a 7-0 defeat of Binghamton Friday, Feb. 27.
The Lions top court features the 13th-ranked racquet of senior Winston Lin. In dual matches this season, Lin has accumulated a 4-2 mark in matches that have reached a decision. Ashok Narayana has split time on the third (2-0) and fourth (3-1) courts to compile a team-best 5-1 singles record. Dragos Ignat, the 76th-ranked player in the nation, has held down the second slot with a 4-3 record.
Columbia has captured the doubles point in four straight outings. Mike Vermeer and Lin's 5-0 mark at No. 2 lead the way as the duo partner up for the 58th pair in the ITA. Vermeer also appears in the rankings with his sophomore partner Richard Pham at 36. Max Schnur teams up with Naryana to represent the Columbia blue in the top-20 at No. 16. On the third court, Bert Vancura and Ignat boast a 4-1 ledger.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
For the past decade Columbia has put on a show for its home crowd posting a 60-7 record at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center including five undefeated home seasons. Currently, the Lions ride an 18-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 2-0 in the friendly confines of the tennis center.
SCOUTING MONMOUTH (4-5)
The Hawks have opened their 2015 campaign exclusively at neutral and road sites. Last weekend in Princeton, New Jersey, Monmouth fell to Buffalo (4-1) and then-No. 23 Princeton (5-0), to slip to 4-5 on the season.
In singles, Victor Pugliese's 4-2 mark on the first court leads the charge. Przemyslaw Filipek and Vidit Vaghela have put together 4-4 records and 3-2 records, respectively. The former has played entirely in the second slot, while the latter has split matches in the fourth and fifth positions.
The Hawks have used a variety of doubles combination this year. Gilipek and Pugliese have proved to be the top tandem with a 5-0 record at No. 1.
WE MEET AGAIN
The Lions-Hawk rivalry will renew from their first ever meeting on February 28, 1996, where Columbia blanked Monmouth, 7-0.
IN THE RANKINGS
After their performance at ITA Division I Men's National Team Indoor Championships, the Lions posted the program's highest ITA Ranking at No. 11. Two weeks later, Columbia remains in the top-15 at No. 15.
Seven Ivy League men's tennis teams appear on the national list with the Lions leading the way, while Harvard (18) and Princeton (25) each landing in the top-25.
As of Feb. 24, Columbia singles players, Winston Lin ranks 13th in the ITA followed by Dragos Ignat at 76th. In doubles, Max Schnur and Ashok Narayana rank 16th in the country while Mike Vermeer is on the 36th and 58th doubles teams with Richard Pham and Winston Lin, respectively.
| DATE Jan. 6 Jan. 20 Jan. 28 Feb. 3 Feb. 17 Feb. 24 March 3 |
Rank 16 16 13 15 11 13 15 |
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
The No. 13 Columbia men's tennis team won its second straight match under the roof of the Dick Savitt Tennis Center as it blanked Binghamton, 7-0, Friday afternoon.
The doubles once again powered the Lions in the early part of the match. Columbia notched wins on the second and third court to claim the first point of the day.
Columbia roared in singles, taking each court with Dragos Ignat getting things going witha 6-1, 6-0 win in the second slot.
MORE READING: No. 13 Men's Tennis Blanks Binghamton, 7-0
UP NEXT
The Lions head back on the road next weekend as they head to Evanston, Illinois, for a showdown with Northwestern Saturday, March 14 at 12 p.m.
