MADISON, Wisc. – After a fantastic 4-0 sweep over No. 14 Duke, the No. 1 Vanderbilt Commodores fell to No. 16 Ohio State in the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship quarterfinals; 4-3.
The loss ended Vandy’s 14-match win streak, which dated back to a 4-3 loss to Texas A&M last season. However, coming into the tournament the Commodores’ head coach Geoff Macdonald said the team was looking for match experience against some of the top teams in the country, and that’s exactly what the squad got.
In doubles, Vanderbilt’s Astra Sharma and Ellie Yates pulled out an easy 6-2 victory on court one for the first win of the day. The swift win was followed by a loss as Frances Altick and Fernanda Contreras fell to Sneed/Di Lorenza; 6-2.
With a win apiece, the doubles point came down to court one where a battle was neck and neck between OSU’s sixth-ranked team of Sanford/Kowase and the Commodores’ No. 11 Sydney Campbell and Courtney Colton.
Down 5-6, the Vandy duo saved two match points to clinch the doubles point advantage with a quality 7-5 ranked win.
In singles action, No. 33 Sharma continued commanding tennis as the redshirt sophomore only allowed her opponent four games, in her 6-2, 6-2 victory on court three.
OSU cut the 2-0 lead with a victory on court six as the Buckeye’s Sneed defeated Yates 6-0, 6-3.
On court three, Georgina Sellyn fell 6-1 in the first set, and almost forced a third as the redshirt junior saved two match points to send the second set to a tiebreaker. The Commodore lost in an extremely hard fought breaker 6-1, 7-6(11), leveling the match score to 2-all.
With both courts one and two dropping their first sets, Campbell and Altick fought hard throughout the second to force a third set.
Against the No. 2 player in the country, No. 24 Campbell earned additional match experience, but fell 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the day.
No. 15 Altick earned Vanderbilt its third and final win of the night to make the score 3-all. The Senior downed De Santis 6-2 in the third.
Saturday’s quarterfinal match came ultimately came down to court four, as Colton battled Miho Kowase. The senior Commodore took the first set 6-2, but Kowase rallied back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-2.
Three matches are guaranteed to teams in #ITAIndoors, so the Commodores will be right back out on the court Sunday.
Vanderbilt will be looking for a rematch against OSU next weekend, as the squad faces Ohio State on the 13th.
Results:
#16 Ohio State 4, #1 Vanderbilt 3
Singles:
- #2 Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. #24 Sydney Campbell (VU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
- #15 Frances Altick (VU) def. Gabriella De Santis (OSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
- #33 Astra Sharma (VU) def. Anna Sanford (OSU) 6-2, 6-2
- Miho Kowase (OSU) def. Courtney Colton (VU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Femy Angeles Paz (OSU) def. Georgina Sellyn (VU) 6-1, 7-6 (13-11)
- Olivia Sneed (OSU) def. Ellie Yates (VU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles:
- #11 Courtney Colton/Sydney Campbell (VU) def. #6 Anna Sanford/Miho Kowase (OSU) 7-5
- Astra Sharma/Ellie Yates (VU) def. Gabriella De Santis/Femy Angeles Paz (OSU) 6-2
- Olivia Sneed/Francesca Di Lorenzo (OSU) def. Frances Altick/Fernanda Contreras (VU) 6-2
Match Notes:Ohio State 5-0; National ranking #16Vanderbilt 4-0; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,6,5,1,2,4)
2016 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship
