KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 14 Vanderbilt women’s team began SEC play Friday night in dominant fashion, defeating the 12th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers 6-1.
With the victory, Vandy has defeated Tennessee in six of its last seven matches against the Vols. The Commodores have claimed the last four competitions against UT, only giving up two points throughout the contests.
“We had a really tough match against a really good Tennessee team,” said senior Tennessee native Sydney Campbell. “I feel like everyone fought really hard and played well tonight. It’s been a fun four years and I’m glad to end my career here with another team win.”
The Commodores claimed the doubles point over Tennessee with victories on courts two and three. Vandy altered its previous lineup, which proved advantageous for the black and gold.
Fernanda Contreras and Christina Rosca only allowed the Vols’ Ariadna Riley and Johanna Silva one game, as the ‘Dores walked away from their first dual match of the season with a 6-1 win. Emma Kurtz and Sydney Campbell pulled off a tight victory on court two, 6-4, for the Commodore clinch.
In singles, Vanderbilt took four of six first sets with Kurtz powering through a first set tiebreaker. The Dores took three straight set victories with Kurtz and Rosca claiming third-set ten-point tiebreakers. VU’s lone loss was on court one as No. 5 Astra Sharma retired from her match against No. 93 Brittany Lindl, 7-6(2), 2-1(ret.).
Ranked No. 16 in the country, Campbell earned the ‘Dores their first victory with a decisive 6-4, 6-2 victory over Sadie Hammond for the 2-0 lead. Back in the singles lineup, Contreras downed Gabby Schuk at No. 6 6-3, 6-2.
Redshirt-senior Georgina Sellyn clinched the match for Vanderbilt with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Eve Repic. Following the conclusion of Sharma’s match, No. 60 Rosca powered back into her contest on court four, rebounding from a 6-4 first set deficit to claim her first win over the in-state rival, 4-6, 6-1, 1-0(6). Kurtz delivered the final blow on court five, handing Johanna Silva a hard fought 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-0(8) loss.
The squad will remains on the road, traveling to Athens, Ga. for a Sunday matinee against the No. 18 Bulldogs.
