Nashville, Tenn. — The top-seeded Vanderbilt women’s tennis team is moving on to the NCAA Round of 32 following a 4-0 win over Alabama State Friday on campus.
The Commodores will face No. 41 Clemson Saturday at noon. The Tigers generated an upset Friday morning, defeating No. 28 Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1.
This is the second consecutive season where the Commodores will face Clemson in second-round action. In 2017, Vanderbilt tamed the Tigers 4-1. Clemson also has tested VU in three of its last four NCAA appearances, with the Commodores winning all three matches.
With the victory over Alabama State, Vanderbilt improves to 54-22 all-time in NCAA play.
The Commodores played confident tennis against Alabama State, nabbing the doubles point and three singles victories to secure the win. Vandy has swept its last six first-round opponents.
In doubles, VU gave up just one game in the three matches. Ranked 11th in the nation, Fernanda Contreras and Astra Sharma picked up the first win on the day, downing Reka Szentes and Chloe Kabamba 6-0.
Christina Rosca and Amanda Meyer, who have just one loss this year on the No. 3 doubles position, extended their winning streak to 10 matches. They limited the Hornets pairing of Mirna Curcic and Marija Blazevic to one game in a 6-1 victory. On court 2, 69th-ranked Emily Smith and Emma Kurtz led 5-0 at the conclusion of tandems.
Vanderbilt strung together singles victories on courts No. 1, No. 6 and No. 5 to secure the sweep.
Going from commencement to NCAA Tournament play, Friday was a busy day for the 11th-ranked Sharma. The recent Vandy grad was first off the court for the black and gold, nearly leaving the court with a perfect match. She earned an impressive 6-0, 6-1 victory.
Summer Dvorak earned her first NCAA Tournament victory, as the junior took an early lead over the Hornets’ Blazevic by winning the first set 6-2. Dvorak continued the dominant tennis with a perfect 6-0 second set.
Kurtz clinched the Commodore victory on court No. 5, winning her match in convincing fashion, 6-1, 6-1.
Note to patrons: The NCAA requires that venues charge for access to any of its championship events. The minimum ticket price shall be $5 for general admission and $3 for students with ID card (per day) at all first- and second- round and finals sites. Children age two and under will be admitted at no charge.
For updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the program, follow @VandyWTennis on Twitter.
#2 Vanderbilt 4, Alabama State 0
- #11 Astra Sharma (VANDY) def. Chloe Kabamba (ALST) 6-0, 6-1
2. #10 Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) vs. Reka Szentes (ALST) 6-4, 2-0, unf.
3. #44 Christina Rosca (VANDY) vs. Gabriela Lackova (ALST) 7-5, unf.
4. Amanda Meyer (VANDY) vs. Lea Krajcovicova (ALST) 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
5. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) def. Mirna Curcic (ALST) 6-1, 6-1
6. Summer Dvorak (VANDY) def. Marija Blazevic (ALST) 6-2, 6-0 - #11 Astra Sharma/Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) def. Reka Szentes/Chloe Kabamba (ALST) 6-0
2. #69 Emma Kurtz/Emily Smith (VANDY) vs. Lea Krajcovicova/Gabriela Lackova (ALST) 5-0, unff.
3. Christina Rosca/Amanda Meyer (VANDY) def. Mirna Curcic/Marija Blazevic (ALST) 6-1
Match Notes:Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,5)
