NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team swept its first doubleheader of the season on Sunday after defeating both Austin Peay and Tennessee State.
Austin Peay
Vanderbilt grabbed the early advantage in doubles with the No. 16 duo of Anessa Lee and Celia Belle-Mohr setting the tone by defeating their Governor opponents 6-2 on Court 1. Sonya Macavei and Holly Staff were right on their heels, besting Yu-Hua Cheng and Asia Fontana with a 6-4 victory to clinch the doubles point for the Commodores.
Singles play had a similar outcome as Vanderbilt never let up. No. 17 Mohr took the first victory on Court 1 in straight sets. No. 42 Bridget Stammel and No. 122 Valeria Ray both defeated their opponents in straight sets, alongside Holly Staff on Court 4. Macavei and Amy Stevens both went to three sets in a 6-1 victory for the Commodores.
Coach Aleke Tsoubanos shared her thoughts on the match, “It was nice to finally have some good weather and play our first outdoor duals today.”
Doubles
1. No. 16 Lee/Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Denise Torrealba/Sophia Baranov 6-2
2. Stammel/Ray (Vanderbilt) vs. Jana Leder/Luca Bohlen 5-5, unfinished
3. Staff/Macavei (Vanderbilt) def. Cheng/Fontana 6-4
Singles
1. No. 17 Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Leder 6-0, 6-1
2. No. 42 Stammel (Vanderbilt) def. Torrealba 6-1, 6-0
3. No. 122 Ray (Vanderbilt) def. Baranov 6-1, 6-2
4. Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Fontana 6-0, 6-1
5. Macavei (Vanderbilt) def. Bohlen 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
6. Pauline Bruns (Austin Peay) def. Stevens 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-2)
Tennessee State
The Dores extended their winning streak in the second match of the day, grabbing the doubles point once again. Macavei and Ray teamed up to defeat their Tiger opponents, followed by Lee and Mohr on Court 1. Naomi Katz and Staff closed out doubles with the Dores claiming all three matches and securing the early lead.
Vanderbilt took back-to-back courts in singles with Ray grabbing a straight-set win on Court 2, as did Staff, Macavei and Mohr. Mohr concluded the doubleheader for the Dores with her second singles win of the day to help Vanderbilt clinch the 5-0 victory over the Tigers.
“I loved seeing Naomi get into the doubles and pair with Holly for a win,” said Tsoubanos.
“The gauntlet of the SEC starts next weekend so we will get to work preparing for Alabama and Auburn this week and look forward to two competitive tests on the road.”
Doubles
1. No. 16 Lee/Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Warona Mdlulwa/Perri Howard 6-3
2. Macavei/Ray (Vanderbilt) def. Arrieta Castillo/Daniela Koleva 6-0
3. Katz/Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Francisca Gomez/Natalie Walsh 6-2
Singles
1. No. 17 Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Mdlulwa 6-0, 6-2
2. No. 122 Ray (Vanderbilt) def. Howard 6-1, 6-0
3. Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Koleva 6-2, 6-0
4. Macavei (Vanderbilt) def. Walsh 6-0, 6-2
5. Stevens (Vanderbilt) vs. Claudia Murdasanu, abandoned
6. Katz (Vanderbilt) vs. Taylor Ellis, abandoned
On Deck: Vanderbilt travels to Tuscaloosa on Friday for the SEC opener against Alabama at 3 p.m.
