NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team claimed its spot in the ITA Kick-Off championship match with a 4-0 win over Penn on Friday at the Currey Tennis Center.
“I was really impressed with Penn,” Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “They’re talented and I think we stepped up to play them really well. Hat’s off to them, I really respect them and their program.
The Commodores opened the match in doubles play where they clinched the doubles point over the Quakers with wins at No. 1 and No. 3.
Senior Christina Rosca and sophomore Georgia Drummy teamed up to secure the Dores’ first doubles victory with a 6-2 win over Iuliia Bryzgalova and Marija Curnic.
On court 3, junior Amanda Meyer and freshman Dasha Kourkina rallied to outlast Gibson Thomas and Ashley Zhu 7-5 to secure the doubles point for the Dores.
Leading the Quakers 1-0 the Commodores looked to extend their lead in singles play.
Emma Kurtz dominated at No. 3 singles to take down Marija Curnic in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 to advance the Dores’ lead to 2-0 followed by Rosca overpowering Zhu at the No. 2 spot 6-2, 6-0 to put the Commodores up 3-0 over the Quakers.
Freshman Anna Ross clinched the Dores’ first dual match victory with a straight set win over Sonia Tartakovsky 6-1, 6-2 to advance the Commodores to the championship match with a 4-0 win over Penn.
Freshman Anna Ross with the clinch. 👏
Ross defeats Tartakovsky in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to secure the match for the Commodores. #FightDores | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/GOPbQOMcPr
— Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis (@VandyWTennis) January 25, 2020
“It was neat that a freshman overcame some early nerves to get the clinch. Anna played a really strong singles match,” Macdonald said. “I’m very pleased with our first dual and I really think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Vanderbilt will face Arizona State in the championship match at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Currey Tennis Center. Admission to the match is free.
Follow along with the Dores as they look to secure their spot in the ITA National Indoor Championships by following @VandyWTennis on Twitter and Instagram.
