Vanderbilt University Team Page

NASHVILLE – Freshman Rhys Johnson was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for his play over the weekend in helping Vanderbilt record wins at No. 13 Mississippi State and at No. 4 Ole Miss, as announced by the conference office Wednesday morning.

Johnson is the second Commodore to earn weekly honors this season after Ryan Lipman took home player of the week honors on March 6. This is the first weekly award for the freshman from Perth, Australia. He is the first Vanderbilt freshman to be named SEC Player of the Week since the SEC began handing out weekly honors in 2000.

Johnson, who played in the No. 6 position, was instrumental in Vanderbilt’s quest to upset two top 15 teams last weekend. His win over MSU’s Stefan Vinti went three sets before he pulled away in the tiebreak of the third set to win 7-6 (7-1). Against Adrian Skogeng of Ole Miss, Johnson again needed three sets and for the second time in as many matches, the freshman came through with a win to secure the win for Vanderbilt.

Both of his singles victories clinched the wins for Vanderbilt. The wins were the first of his SEC career (2-1) and he is now 8-11 overall (6-7 dual) this season.

Vanderbilt is off to its best start under current head coach Ian Duvenhage at 13-4 overall and 4-1 in SEC play.

Johnson and the Commodores welcome sixth-ranked Georgia to the Currey Tennis Center on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a match at No. 9 Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Weekend Results

Singles
3/15     Stefan Vinti, Mississippi State W 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(1)
3/17     Adrian Skogeng, Ole Miss       W 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Doubles (with Jeff Offerdahl)
3/15     Bogaerts/Dumont, Mississippi State  W 8-4
3/17     Kallberg/Wilder, Ole Miss      8-8 DNF