May 11, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The third-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team continues its postseason excursion this weekend when it hosts its fourth consecutive NCAA regional at the Currey Tennis Center.
As the fourth-overall seed, the Commodores will kickoff their 23rd-stright appearance on the big stage this Friday, taking on SIU Edwardsville at 4 p.m. Like last season, VU enters NCAAs with a 20-5 record. Friday’s matchup will also be a repeat of last year’s first-round competition, as VU downed SIUE 4-0 to begin its march to national semifinals.
Sitting 21-0, SIUE is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Champion and makes its second NCAA tournament appearance in program history this weekend. The Cougars boast three student-athletes with 20-plus wins and two first team All-OVC selections in Lexi Aranda and Mia Frogner.
A victory on Friday would be the Commodores’ 50th NCAA tournament victory, as the Dores begin the 2017 tourney with a 49-21 slate.
Prior to first serve against the Cougars, the No. 2 regional seed, Washington, will face third-seeded Clemson at 1 p.m. The winner of the two first-round matches will square off Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the second-round regional championship. The regional champion will travel to Athens, Ga. for the Sweet 16, playing the winner of 13th-seeded Cal’s regional.