Oct. 16, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team continues its fall season this weekend as it hosts the June Stewart Invitational. The Commodores will be one of seven teams competing Oct. 17-19 at the Currey Tennis Center. Other teams competing this weekend include Indiana, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Western Michigan, William & Mary and UT-Martin.
“We’re really pleased to be hosting some fine teams this weekend, and we appreciate their efforts to get here,” head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “Our team has had some good practices since our last tournament, and we are looking forward to showcasing our young, talented team.”
This weekend’s invitational marks the third tournament of the fall for the Commodores. They are coming off an impressive finish at the Hoosier Classic two weeks ago where they went a combined 15-2 in singles action. Freshman Jackie Wu looks to improve on her impressive 6-0 record this week while fellow freshman Chelsea Preeg and junior Catherine Newman have five wins apiece.
Through two fall tournaments the dynamic freshmen class is a combined 18-2 in singles.
Last year’s June Stewart Invite was highlighted by the championship match between current senior Courtney Ulery and two-time All-American Amanda Taylor. Ulery came out on the winning end as she edged her teammate in three sets for the title. The win for Ulery, was one of her school record 20-straight singles wins to start the 2007-08 season.
This year’s tournament will be broken down into five eight-player singles draws and one round robin draw for singles, while the doubles competition will be played in a round-robin format.
The Invitational is named after former Vanderbilt Senior Women’s Administrator June Stewart. Stewart worked for the Vanderbilt athletic department for 28 years, and by the time she retired she was one of the most influential women in the Southeastern Conference.
“This tournament is another way to celebrate the great career of June Stewart, who was just named to the first class of Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame,” Macdonald said.
Competition will begin with doubles play starting at 10 a.m. Friday.
2008 Competing Teams
Indiana
Kentucky
Middle Tennessee State
UT Martin
Vanderbilt
William & Mary
Western Michigan
