WACO, Texas – With a 4-0 victory over the No. 21 Clemson Tigers, the overall fourth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. On Sunday Vanderbilt takes on the Florida Gators for the third time this season at 4:00 pm CT. UF earned a sweep of their own, downing the Oklahoma State Cowgirls Friday afternoon in Dallas, Texas on the campus of SMU.
Due to inclement weather conditions match play was delayed a great deal, but nothing could derail Vandy as the squad sought success over a Clemson team which stumped the `Dores the past two seasons.
“It was really a close match,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “I thought a key was No. 1 doubles being down 4-1 and turning it around, and then momentum switched. I actually thought we were in good shape at two, but that matched turned in Clemson’s favor. So then it game down to three, and I thought we did a really great job at No. 3 doubles. That’s a superb Clemson team. We knew they were way better than their ranking, and I respect their coach tremendously. Nancy Harris does a hell of a job every single year so this is a quality win.”
Once again the doubles play was electric as VU clinched the valuable one-point advantage with a pair of 8-6 victories on courts one and three.
Clemson’s No. 4 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies came out strong to take a swift 5-2 lead, but the Commodores’ tenacity and competitive drive kicked in with Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell climbing back into match contention. The tandem leveled the score to 5-all and cemented the comeback with a thrilling 8-6 victory.
It was Marie Casares and Frances Altick who clinched the doubles point for VU, as they came out on top of a toe-to-toe battle with CU’s Joana Eidukonyte and Daniela Ruiz. Casares and Altick generated a solid win for the `Dores, delivering the Tigers a 8-6 defeat.
While momentum was heating up on courts one and three, there was a lull on court two as 18th-ranked Astra Sharma and Ashley Antal put their 16-match win streak on the line. The Tigers slowly began chip away at the Commodores’ 5-1 lead to take the 7-6 advantage when the match was abandoned.
Reeling off the excitement of doubles action, the Commodores took five first sets on their way to complete the sweep.
No. 8 Campbell allowed her opponent just three games, when the sophomore Commodore flipped the switch to break lose and win the next four games in a row. After the 6-3 first set victory the Franklin, Tenn. native overpowered #36 Romy Koelzer once again to take the second 6-1.
Vanderbilt solidified the win as both VU seniors cruised through their matches on courts five and six. Both Casares and Antal continue to add stability to the lower portion of the lineup, with both positions being nearly unstoppable forces.
Antal earned her 12th win of the season at the No. 5 position as the Wilmington, N.C native raced to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Clemson grad student Yuilynn Miao. Casares clinched another paramount match for VU with her 25th win of her final season with the Black and Gold. The Quito, Ecuador native defeated junior Tristen Dewar 6-1, 6-4.
Final Results:
- #20 Courtney Colton/Sydney Campbell (VANDERBILT) def. #4 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies (CLEMSON) 8-6
- #18 Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (VANDERBILT) vs. Romy Koelzer/Yuilynn Miao (CLEMSON) 6-7, UF
- Marie Casares/Frances Altick (VANDERBILT) def. Joana Eidukonyte/Daniela Ruiz (CLEMSON) 8-6
Singles (Order of finish: 1, 6, 5)
- #8 Sydney Campbell (VANDERBILT) def. #36 Romy Koelzer (CLEMSON) 6-3, 6-1
- #42 Astra Sharma (VANDERBILT) vs. #60 Beatrice Gumulya (CLEMSON) 6-3, 3-3, UF
- #96 Frances Altick (VANDERBILT) vs. #12 Joana Eidukonyte (CLEMSON) 4-6, UF
- #61 Courtney Colton (VANDERBILT) vs. Jessy Rompies ( CLEMSON)6-2, UF
- #120 Marie Casares (VANDERBILT) def. Tristen Dewar ( CLEMSON) 6-1, 6-4
- Ashleigh Antal (VANDERBILT) def. Yuilynn Miao ( CLEMSON) 6-1, 6-3
