Down Go the Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — No. 15 Vanderbilt got back into the win column on Sunday with a 5-2 road win over No. 22 Florida.

“Friday was a tough day as a team, so obviously we wanted to regroup quickly,” head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “We played well at No. 3 doubles and found our way back from an early break at the No. 1 spot to grab the doubles point, which always helps to that end.”

After claiming the doubles advantage, Vanderbilt opened up leads at four of the six singles courts. No. 44-ranked junior Bridget Stammel quickly took a 6-1 first set against Talia Neilson-Gatenby. Moments after, freshman Trinetra Vijayakumar pulled ahead 6-2 over Bente Spee in the opener. Senior Amy Stevens and freshman Sophia Webster continued the momentum, each capturing first sets at No. 5 and No. 6 singles. All four clinched in the second set.

No. 11-ranked senior Celia-Belle Mohr and No. 56-ranked sophomore Valeria Ray both suffered upsets at the top two singles positions. It marks the first time all season Vanderbilt has captured a team win when falling at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Mohr and Ray have dropped back-to-back singles matches for the first time this year.

“Florida was short-handed today, but the team did a good job of getting out to big leads early on the No. 5 and No. 6 courts, and we were able to close out the additional points we needed,” Tsoubanos said. “Every win in the SEC is valuable, especially those on the road. We will turn the focus to Friday and getting back on our home courts against LSU.”

No. 15 Vanderbilt (13-4, 6-3 SEC) returns home for its third top-10 contest in four matches; the Dores host No. 9 LSU (17-3, 7-2 SEC) on Friday at 2 p.m. For more information, updates and exclusive game day content, follow the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team, @VandyWTennis, on Instagram and X.

No. 15 Vanderbilt 5, No. 22 Florida 2

Doubles
1. No. 14 Mohr/Webster (Vanderbilt) def. No. 60 Alicia Dudeney/Spee (Florida) 6-2
2. Rachel Gailis/Reagan Parker (Florida) vs. Ray/Vijayakumar (Vanderbilt) 5-3, unfinished
3. Stammel/Stevens (Vanderbilt) def. Noemie Oliveras/Neilson-Gatenby (Florida) 6-3

Singles
1. No. 39 Gailis (Florida) def. No. 11 Mohr (Vanderbilt) 6-3, 6-3
2. No. 91 Dudeney (Florida) def. No. 56 Ray (Vanderbilt) 1-6, 6-0, 10-8
3. No. 44 Stammel (Vanderbilt) def. Neilson-Gatenby (Florida) 6-1, 3-0, retired
4. Vijayakumar (Vanderbilt) def. Spee (Florida) 6-2, 6-3
5. Webster (Vanderbilt) def. Oliveras (Florida) 6-1, 6-2
6. Stevens (Vanderbilt) def. Parker (Florida) 6-2, 6-0

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,2,1)