NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 5th ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team earned its fifth sweep of the 2016 season, with a powerful 7-0 victory at home over the Tennessee Vols. With the win, Vanderbilt heads into Saturday’s UGA match with an 11-4 overall record, and 4-2 conference slate.
“They’re a good Tennessee team,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald, “and those coaches and I have had teams play each other probably 40 times. They’re a good team, they’re a little dinged up right now, but when they’re healthy they’re going to be fantastic.”
Vanderbilt opened up the rivalry match with a commanding 6-1 victory on court two. The win was the first for Sydney Campbell and Frances Altick this season. The Commodores clinched the doubles point for the first time in eight matches as Fernanda Contreras and Georgina Sellyn defeated the Vols in a tight match, 6-4. At the clinch, No. 58 Courtney Colton/Astra Sharma did not finish their match against No. 75 Sadie Hammond/Eve Repic, but led 5-4.
“The hardest part in doubles is that it’s no add scoring, and if you miss a return or over play one shot you’re down a game you should have had… and that’s happened to us a good bit this season.”
Vanderbilt picked up a quick 2-0 lead as No. 17 Altick earned her 98th singles win, and 11th straight victory, with an easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Kermet on court three.
Playing back on court one, No. 25 Campbell followed the win up with a hard fought two set performance against No. 42 Sadie Hammond, earning her forth SEC win 6-4, 6-4.
Sellyn had an amazing comeback performance on court five. The Glasgow, Scotland native found herself early on in a deep hole, down 5-1 to Tiffany Tavares in the first set. Sellyn then rallied and won six games in a row to take the first set, 7-5. The redshirt junior maintained that momentum going into the second set, and won the match 7-5, 6-1. Sellyn’s impressive performance also clinched the match against the Tennessee Vols, her first this season.
“Georgina did a great job coming back. This was a tough midweek match. We didn’t play great, but we took care of business. In this league any win you get you clutch it to your chest and go home, because it’s so tough!”
The wins kept rolling in for the Commodores, but not without a little fight as the `Dores were sent to two tiebreakers throughout the remainder of the match.
On court four, Colton took down Brittany Lindl in the first set, 6-1. The senior was taken to a tiebreaker, but powered through without dropping a single point, 7-6 (0). No. 21 Sharma won a highly competitive match, which started off by winning a first set tiebreaker 7-6(1). Sharma won her 17th match this season, by pulling out a back and forth second set, 6-4, to win the match.
Contreras continued to show stability for the Commodores on court six, adding another win to her freshman year total (21). The Mexico native defeated Ashley Bongart 6-0, 6-4 for her first victory in the in-state rivalry. The Commodores are back in action at home this Saturday to take on the 3rd ranked Georgia Bulldogs at noon.
“Georgia is a great team, and we also have a great rivalry with them. Last year they beat us at their place, but we had an incredible game against them in the SEC tournament championships. I think it’s supposed to be beautiful outside, and it’s a big match so we’re looking forward to it!”
