Nov. 13, 2015
FLUSHING, N.Y. – Frances Altick and Sydney Campbell of the No. 1 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team return to Nashville as National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship quarterfinalists.
“You know it was a really good win by both players in the morning,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “Overall I just thought it was a great tournament by both players. I’m proud of them. They came and represented Vanderbilt in this incredibly elite national tournament.”
Friday’s tournament action began with a bang as the Commodores booted two of the top-five tournament seeds in the round of 16.
Altick, a senior from Monroe. La., squared off against fourth-seeded Ellen Perez out of the University of Georgia. Altick made quick work of her sweet-16 matchup, taking down the Bulldog in a decisive 6-3 first set. The upset continued on into the second set as Altick held Perez from a near split, defeating the SEC foe 6-3, 6-4.
While Atlick was battling No. 29 Perez, VU’s Campbell had a top-ten matchup on her hands as the seventh-ranked Commodore took on Cal’s No. 4 Maegan Manasse. As the No. 2 seed in the tournament Manasse brought fierce competition to the table, only allowing Campbell two games in the initial set.
But with the chance of advancing on the line, Campbell began what turned out to be an unstoppable rally, taking the second set 6-2, and the third 6-3.
Vanderbilt took on two Florida squads in quarterfinals, with Altick facing the Gators’ No. 32 Belinda Woolcock and Campbell battling in her second top-ten matchup of the day against No.6 Stephanie Wagner of Miami.
While both Commodores fought exceptionally hard, almost forcing third sets, they each fell to the seventh and eighth seeds 6-3, 6-4.
“We had two players in the quarters. And with the two matches in the afternoon, hey lost to two players who played really well. They fought and almost got those matches to third sets. You know it just didn’t go our way, but superb competition by Frances and Sydney and I’m proud of them.”
