NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Though dropping doubles, No. 15 Vanderbilt raced back in singles on the way to a big 5-2 victory over Louisville on Friday evening at the Currey Tennis Center.
With Louisville opening the match taking a tightly-contested doubles point, the Commodores answered the call for a comeback in singles play by winning five of six courts to move to 7-0 heading into Sunday’s nonconference finale at No. 9 Georgia Tech. First serve against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta is set for 10 a.m. CT.
Evening the match at 1-1, No. 20 Christina Rosca quickly dispatched Chelsea Sawyer 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 and Anessa Lee followed close behind with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 5 over Tatiana Simova.
Leading 2-1, Emma Kurtz made it a 3-1 lead when she came back from a first-set loss and a 4-2 deficit in the third at No. 1 to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3). Fighting to clinch the win, Marcella Cruz took out Dina Chaika 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6.
The point to take the tiebreaker for Emma Kurtz. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Th8XUzXAfB
— Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis (@VandyWTennis) February 12, 2021
Down the stretch, Holly Staff earned Vandy’s fifth point with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7) tiebreaking victory at No. 4 over Rhea Verma. While the Commodores couldn’t sweep singles, Anna Ross put up a strong fight at No. 2 in falling 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5).
Hard fought and a big W heading into a clash with No. 9 Georgia Tech on Sunday. #AnchorDown. . pic.twitter.com/J38LQGAE8z
— Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis (@VandyWTennis) February 13, 2021
Though Vanderbilt dropped the doubles point, it battled back from deficits to give itself an opportunity to win. All three Commodore duos came up with timely breaks to get back to 4-5 or 5-5.
At No. 2, Kurtz and Cruz broke to make it a 5-4 deficit, but the two were broken one game later with Louisville taking the 6-4 win. At No. 3, Rosca and Lee won five consecutive games after trailing 5-2 to take the match 7-5 and even doubles at one apiece.
With both sides looking to secure the early lead, Ross and Staff broke to make it a 5-5 match at No. 1, but the Cardinals went on to secure a break on the way to a 7-5 win to claim the doubles point.
Results
Singles
1. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) def. Raven Neely (LOU) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Andrea DiPalma (LOU) def. Anna Ross (VANDY) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5)
3. #20 Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. Chelsea Sawyer (LOU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Holly Staff (VANDY) def. Rhea Verma (LOU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7)
5. Anessa Lee (VANDY) def. Tatiana Simova (LOU) 6-1, 7-5
6. Marcella Cruz (VANDY) def. Dina Chaika (LOU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Rhea Verma/Andrea DiPalma (LOU) def. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY) 7-5
2. Raven Neely/Tatiana Simova (LOU) def. Emma Kurtz/Marcella Cruz (VANDY) 6-4
3. Christina Rosca/Anessa Lee (VANDY) def. Dina Chaika/Chelsea Sawyer (LOU) 7-5
Match Notes:
Louisville 3-2
Vanderbilt 7-0; National ranking #15
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,5,1,6,4,2)
T-4:01
