NASHVILLE, Tenn. -The 16th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodore women’s tennis team advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2007 NCAA Championships with a 4-0 victory over the University of Tennessee Saturday at the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center.
“I think we played our best match of the year today,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Geoff Macdonald. “We’re thrilled to be going to the Sweet 16.”
The Commodores took an early lead by earning the doubles point behind 8-2 and 8-4 wins by Taka Bertrand/Catherine Newman and Courtney Ulery/Liberty Sveke.
“Bertrand and Newman played unbelievable [in doubles],” Macdonald said. “Winning the doubles point really put a lot of pressure on Tennessee.
The Commodore doubles team of Amanda Taylor and Amanda Fish fought back from a 0-3 deficit to take a 5-4 lead when the game was suspended.
Vanderbilt won the singles matches in straight sets. Courtney Ulery won the first singles match of the day 7-5, 6-0 over Samantha Orlin. Amanda Taylor defeated Ghizela Schutte 7-5, 6-0, and Taka Bertrand closed the day with a 7-5, 6-2 over Caitlin Whoriskey.
Vanderbilt defeated the Volunteers 4-3 earlier in the season in Knoxville.
“We almost wish we didn’t have to play each other,” Macdonald said of Tennessee Co-Head Coach Mike Patrick. “I’ve been friends with him for 20 years and I respect him so much. Tennessee is a Sweet 16-caliber team.”
Patrick shares coaching duties with Sonia Hahn-Patrick.
“It’s unfortunate that our season is over, but both Sonia and I are very proud of how our team fought until the bitter end,” Patrick said. “Vanderbilt is a tremendous team and they just got the better of us this afternoon.”
The ‘Dores will face top-ranked Stanford at noon Friday, May 18, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. Stanford beat Vanderbilt 6-1 earlier in the season at the Team Indoors Tournament.
“Over the years, we have beaten each of the traditional powers in the country except Stanford,” Macdonald said. “Stanford beat us in the National Indoors, but we were without two starters. We are going to be fit, ready, and very hungry to play next week.”
NCAA Second Round
Currey Tennis Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt (VU) def. Tennessee (UT), 4-0
Doubles
No. 1: Amanda Taylor/Amanda Fish (VU) led Caitlin Whoriskey/Zsofia Zubor (UT), 5-4 DNF
No. 2: Taka Bertrand/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Ghizela Schutte/Connor Vogel (UT), 8-2
No. 3: Liberty Sveke/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Blakelely Griffith/Samantha Orlin (UT), 8-4
Order of finish: 2, 3
Singles
No. 1: Amanda Fish (VU) vs. Blakeley Griffith (UT), 5-7, 1-2 DNF
No. 2: Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Ghizela Schutte (UT), 7-5, 6-0
No. 3: Catherine Newman (VU) vs. Connor Vogel (UT), 6-2, 4-2, DNF
No. 4: Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Caitlin Whoriskey (UT), 7-5, 6-2
No. 5: Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Samantha Orlin (UT), 7-5, 6-2
No. 6: Caroline Ferrell (VU) vs. Zsofia Zubor (UT), 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 DNF
Order of finish: 5, 2, 4
Match Notes
Vanderbilt advances to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament May 18 in Athens, Ga.
