Oct. 23, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was a beautiful first day of tournament action at the annual June Stewart Invitational. Testing out the new collegiate tennis formats, Vanderbilt went 1-2 in doubles action against Indiana and 4-3 in singles play versus the Wichita State Shockers.
“Well were playing a new format in women’s college tennis called no-ad and the doubles has been shortened from a pro-set to a set,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald, “so we didn’t do particularly well in the doubles as far as knowing how quick the format is and that’s exactly why were doing this, to learn that ‘hey, this thing goes pretty fast so you cant let up’. You can play a little but of a loose game or a half of a loose game and all of a sudden you get broken and lose a game… It’s different, it’s a lot faster.”
For Summer Dvorak and Fernanda Contreras, Friday was their first chance to perform in front of a home crowd at the Currey Tennis Center and the freshmen didn’t disappoint.
After falling in doubles action, both new Commodores were inspired going into singles action, giving the Dores their first opening set victories of the afternoon against a strong Wichita State team.
Contreras defeated senior Shocker Abby Stevens, who earned all-conference honors last seasonm6-3, 6-4, while Dvorak took down sophomore Giulia Guidetti in a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win.
“Today was super exciting, it just motivated me to keep building,” said Contreras. “Just looking up at the Star V and at my teammates made me feel sure and confortable… I know they’ll always have my back through thick and thin.”
The Commodores went to three sets three times in singles action as Astra Sharma came back from a 6-1 first set deficit to defeat Gabriela Porubin 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Sydney Campbell closed out her first set over Schiller 7-5, but the Shocker used the loss as motivation to take the second in a close 6-4 decision. Campbell rallied in the third to take the match 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Sophomore Payton Robinette won her first collegiate set against WSU’s Summer Schlotterback in an easy 6-1 victory, but the Shocker would come back to take the match 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.
“I thought Sydney (Campbell) did a really nice job at one coming back against some very good Wichita State players, so I was really pleased with the singles performance. But we look to make steps and improvements tomorrow, maybe understand that doubles point a little better.”
Tournament play resumes Saturday with doubles action at 8:30 am CT between Vanderbilt and players from both Ole Miss and Auburn.
Results:
Friday Doubles Vanderbilt vs. Indiana):
Schmider/Barson (IU) def. Campbell/Contreras (VU); 7-5
Sharma/Yates (VU) def. McLean/Appel (IU); 6-3
Gutierrez/Wolf (IU) def. Leavell/Dvorak (VU); 6-3
Afternoon singles (Vanderbilt vs. Wichita State):
Sydney Campbell (VU) def. Julia Schiller (WSU); 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
Astra Sharma (VU) def. Gabriela Porubin (WSU); 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
Rebecca Pedrazzi (WSU) def. Ellie Yates (VU); 6-2, 6-1
Fernanda Contreras (VU) def. Abby Stevens (WSU); 6-3, 6-4
Summer Dvorak (VU) def. Giulia Guidetti (WSU); 6-2, 6-1
Tanaporn Thongsing (WSU) def. Maggie Leavell (VU); 6-2, 6-2
Summer Schlotterback (WSU) def. Payton Robinette; 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
