NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A late surge was not enough to lift No. 11 Vanderbilt women’s tennis over No. 9 Oklahoma as the Commodores fell 4-3 to the Sooners on Thursday at the Lummis Family Tennis Center.
“We were one point short today, but I couldn’t be prouder of this group and the way we are competing right now,” head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “I told them after the match that I’d go to battle with them any day of the week against anyone, and I’d do it knowing I have the best group of human beings I could ask for. They are classy, they play hard, they are respectful of the game and they battle until the end.”
The two teams split doubles to begin the match. No. 19 ranked junior Valeria Ray and senior Bridget Stammel generated the first win of the day for Vanderbilt (18-6, 8-4 SEC) at No. 2 doubles, downing No. 17 Evialina Laskevich and Edda Mamedova 6-4. The win was the duo’s fifth ranked victory over a ranked opponent this season, three of which have come in the last five matches. It was the fifth straight win for the pair and was also highest ranked win the two have put together this year in doubles play. The Sooners, though, notched wins at their No. 1 and No. 3 positions to secure the early doubles point.
“We didn’t play our best doubles, or even our best singles in a few places, and that is what’s exciting about what’s possible for this team,” Tsoubanos said. “We will keep our focus on improvement, growth and being relentless competitors with every opportunity.”
Vandy knotted the score 1-1 behind a 6-1, 6-2 victory from No. 116 freshman Mia Yamakita over Chloé Noël. The win ended a four match skid for the freshman. Oklahoma (20-4, 10-2 SEC) again moved ahead after notching wins at No. 3 and No. 5 singles. Down 3-1, the Commodores began to shift the momentum. No. 25 Ray put together a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 comeback against No. 45 Mamedova at the No. 2 position. At the same time, No. 14 Stammel was working on a comeback of her own against No. 10 Laskevich on Court 1. Before Stammel could finish the job, Oklahoma netted a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 from Gloriana Nahum to clinch the match. No. 1 singles was ultimately played out, with Stammel sinking Laskevich 2-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4. It was the first win for Stammel over a top-10 opponent in her career.
“Mia held a masterclass to put that first point on the board quickly and get the score to 1-1; she executed about as well as she could have to close that out quickly,” Tsoubanos said. “Two absolutely outstanding performances by Bridget and Valeria at the top of our singles lineup today. No one in the conference has beaten Laskevich and Mamedova in the same dual match, but those two did that today. They are great competitors, and I was proud of them both for fighting through some tough moments where momentum was against them, especially in Bridget’s case facing multiple match points, to come away with those victories.”
“Thank you to an awesome crowd of folks for coming out to cheer us on,” Tsoubanos concluded. “Your support was amazing, and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. We hope to see you one last time from home on Saturday.”
No. 11 Vanderbilt closes out its regular season home slate on Saturday, serving as the team’s Senior Day. Naomi Katz, Sonya Macavei, Célia-Belle Mohr and Stammel will be recognized ahead of the Dores’ matchup with Arkansas (12-10, 3-9 SEC). For more information, updates and exclusive match day content, follow the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team, @VandyWTennis, on Instagram and X.
No. 9 Oklahoma 4, No. 11 Vanderbilt 3
Doubles
1. No. 1 Roisin Gilheany/Nahum [Oklahoma] def. No. 5 Mohr/Sophia Webster [Vanderbilt] 6-4
2. No. 19 Ray/Stammel [Vanderbilt] def. No. 17 Laskevich/Mamedova [Oklahoma] 6-4
3. Julia Garcia Ruiz/Salakthip Ounmuang [Oklahoma] def. Erin Pearce/Yamakita [Vanderbilt] 6-2
Singles
1. No. 14 Stammel [Vanderbilt] def. No. 10 Laskevich [Oklahoma] 2-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4
2. No. 25 Ray [Vanderbilt] def. No. 45 Mamedova [Oklahoma] 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Garcia Ruiz [Oklahoma] def. Pearce [Vanderbilt] 6-2, 6-4
4. No. 116 Yamakita [Vanderbilt] def. Noël [Oklahoma] 6-1, 6-2
5. Ounmuang [Oklahoma] def. Webster [Vanderbilt] 6-4, 6-2
6. Nahum [Oklahoma] def. Trinetra Vijayakumar [Vanderbilt] 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,3,5,2,6,1)
