ORLANDO, Fla. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team wrapped up action at Disney, Saturday, falling in the finals of the doubles main draw to Texas A&M. The `Dores went 2-2 in doubles on the day and won two of three consolation singles matches at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Tennis Complex.
“I was very proud of how our team adapted to playing on the clay this weekend,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “There was a really high level of play here this weekend. I thought we really developed as a team and had some nice wins.”
Marie Casares and Ashleigh Antal fell to the eighth-ranked doubles team in the country of Stefania Hristov and Cristina Stancu of Texas A&M, 8-5. Casares and Antal dropped the match after winning both their quarterfinal and semifinal matches, Saturday.
“Marie and Ashleigh had a really great tournament,” said Macdonald. “They had their chances to win the final, but give credit to Hristov and Stancu, they are a really good team and played well late in the match.”
The Vandy duo defeated the No. 47 doubles team from Oklahoma State in the quarters before beating Keegan and Stojic of Florida, 8-4, in the semis.
The other Vandy doubles team of Georgina Sellyn and Frances Altick dropped their quarterfinal match, 8-4, to the team from New Mexico.
Sellyn, Casares and Antal all saw action in the singles consolation, Saturday. Sellyn, originally the fourth-seed in the main draw, won her consolation match over Natasha Smith of New Mexico, 6-0, 6-1.
Antal fell to Kerrie Cartwright of the host school Florida State. The Vandy junior won the opening set 6-4, but then dropped the next set 6-4 and lost in the tie break third set, 10-3.
Casares picked up a big win in the consolation round, knocking off No. 115 Hristov of TAMU, 4-6, 6-2, 10-3.
Saturday’s Results
Doubles – Quarterfinals
Bezdickova/Blankers (UNM) def. Sellyn/Altick (VAN) 8-4
Antal/Casares (VAN) def. Narrattana/Tur Mari (OKST) 8-5
Doubles – Semifinals
Antal/Casares (VAN) def. Keegan/Stojic (UF) 8-4
Doubles – Finals
Stancu/Hristov (TAMU) def. Antal/Casares (VAN) 8-5
Singles – Consolation
Georgina Sellyn (VAN) def. Natasha Smith (UNM) 6-0, 6-1
Kerrie Cartwright (FSU) def. Ashleigh Antal (VAN) 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Marie Casares (VAN) def. Stefania Hristov (TAMU) 4-6, 6-2, 10-3
