NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive season, the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team is headed to the Columbus Regional for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores will face Xavier in the first round of the postseason tournament scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday. The winner of that contest will advance to play the winner of Illinois State and Ohio State on Sunday at 11 a.m at the Auer Tennis Complex.
Last season, the Commodores advanced to the NCAA Second Round following a 4-0 sweep of Ball State to open competition in Columbus, Ohio. They then fell to the Buckeyes in a tightly contested 4-3 matchup as the home team advanced to the Super Regionals and ended the Commodores’ season. Four current Commodores have experience on the Ohio State courts, having competed in last season’s tournament there while Anessa Lee recorded a victory in straight sets, 6-3 and 7-5, at No. 3 singles in the second-round matchup as Vanderbilt fell to Ohio State.
The 2022 season marks the 27th consecutive in which the Commodores have appeared in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to eight quarterfinals, six final fours and three title matches. Since 2015, the Commodores have appeared in four semifinals, having won the program’s first championship in 2015.
Scouting the Opponent
Xavier comes into the postseason with a 14-9 record and 2022 Big East champions. The Musketeers received the automatic qualifier bid following their sweep of DePaul in the conference championships. Xavier dropped just one set in the title game as they captured their second straight tournament title and secured their third appearance in the NCAA tournament.
ITA Rankings
- Following a week hiatus between the SEC Tournament and start of the NCAA postseason, the Commodores rank 30th nationally and will play in 10-see Ohio State’s regional.
- Anna Ross sits 46th in singles and was selected as an at-large participant in the NCAA Singles Championship. It will be her first individual appearance in the tournament.
- Annesa Lee and Holly Staff boast nearly identical records this season and currently rank 87th and 88th, respectively, in the ITA poll.
- Selected as alternates for the NCAA Doubles Championship, Ross and Staff currently rank 37th in the nation at doubles. The tandem boast an 8-4 record this season and went 6-2 in dual matches.
Up Next
The NCAA individual tournament will run May 23-28 following the conclusion of the team tournament. Anna Ross will represent the Commodores in the singles competition.
