NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Adding to its season-opening winning streak, No. 15 Vanderbilt dispatched ETSU 7-0 on Sunday afternoon for its sixth-straight win to open the 2021 campaign. Now 6-0 on the season, the Commodores are 6-0 to open a campaign for the first time since 2017-18.
Battling through doubles action, Holly Staff and Anna Ross earned a 6-3 win at No. 1 before Emma Kurtz and Marcella Cruz clinched the doubles victory with a 6-4 win at No. 2. Closing the sweep of the Bucs, Christina Rosca and Anessa Lee won a tight match at No. 3 with a 7-6 (2) tiebreaking victory.
In singles, Kurtz paced Vandy with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alejandra Morales at No. 2 while Cruz checked in close behind with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Maria Fernanda Carvajal at No. 5. Securing the sixth win of the year, Ross pulled away in her second set for a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 1 over Laylo Bakhodirova.
Meyer closes it out 7-5, 6-2 for the 🧹 of the Bucs.
Back in action next weekend at home against Louisville and on the road at No. 6 Georgia Tech. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/aHtNdxjSXF
— Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis (@VandyWTennis) February 8, 2021
Putting the finishing touches on the win, Staff came back from a 9-5 deficit in a third-set tiebreaker to claim victory 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10) while 20th-ranked Rosca answered a tough first set to earn a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6) decision at No. 3. Putting the final point on the board, Amanda Meyer closed the day with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 6.
With one more weekend of nonconference play on the docket, Vanderbilt will challenge itself with matches against ACC competition. First, the Dores will host Louisville on Friday at 3 p.m. before closing the weekend with a visit to No. 6 Georgia Tech on Sunday.
Results
Singles
1. Anna Ross (VANDY) def. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) def. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. #20 Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. A Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Holly Staff (VANDY) def. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (12-10)
5. Marcella Cruz (VANDY) def. Maria Carvajal (ETSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Amanda Meyer (VANDY) def. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY) def. Alejandra Morales/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) 6-3
2. Emma Kurtz/Marcella Cruz (VANDY) def. Laylo Bakhodirova/Emilia Alfaro (ETSU) 6-4
3. Christina Rosca/Anessa Lee (VANDY) def. A Pascual-Larrinaga/Maria Carvajal (ETSU) 7-6 (7-2)
Match Notes:
ETSU 4-3
Vanderbilt 6-0; National ranking #15
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,1,4,3,6)
