Jan. 4, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team kicks off the 2017 dual season ranked ninth in the nation in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, with three student-athletes earning spots in the singles poll and one Commodore tandems team represented in doubles.
Following a fruitful fall, the ‘Dores look to field a lineup this spring featuring three student-athletes with just one loss during tournament play, one two-time ITA national championship semifinalist and three experienced newcomers ready to prove themselves for the black and gold.
After having a fall for the history books, 2015 All-American and NCAA tournament MVP, Astra Sharma is ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Aussie is the highest ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis player heading into the season. Sharma put together one of the most successful tournament seasons this past fall as a semifinalist in both of the ITA’s two individual national championships. The redshirt junior enters dual play with a 75-22 overall record.
Senior Sydney Campbell comes in at No. 19 in the singles poll. The Franklin native picked up a 6-1 record over the fall, defeating two ranked opponents in Oklahoma’s then-No. 72 Lily Miyazaki and Pepperdine’s then-48th ranked Mayar Sherif Ahmed.
The future continues to look bright for VU as freshman Christina Rosca makes her Oracle ITA debut, ranked No. 28 in the nation. The Princeton, N.J. native dropped only one match during the fall, garnering a 13-1 record and a quarterfinal spot at Ohio Valley Regionals.
In doubles, Campbell and Rosca claim the No. 53 spot in the country.
Head coach Geoff Macdonald and his squad begin the 2017 season on Jan. 27 hosting Kansas, Clemson and Virginia Tech on ITA Kickoff Weekend.
