NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team commanded a strong debut on the first day of the annual June Stewart closing out day one with six victories on Friday at the Currey Tennis Center.
“Overall, I thought it was a really good day. Everybody competed really hard and we look forward to coming out and doing it again tomorrow,” said associate head coach Aleke Tsoubanos.
Starting off with doubles play, Commodore pair Anna Ross and Emma Kurtz collected the Dores’ first victory of the day by defeating Middle Tennessee State duo Zani and Lee Barnard, 8-2.
“Anna and Emma played a really good, solid doubles match from start to finish. They played very well,” said Tsoubanos.
In singles, four Commodores collected victories to wrap up day one of the Invitational.
The freshmen class dominated to earn an undefeated start in their June Stewart debuts.
Cruz led the freshmen class by cruising to a straight set victory over Lipscomb’s Trbeznik, 6-1, 6-2, followed by Dasha Koukina overpowering Lipscomb’s Zakordoniec, 6-2, 6-3.
Freshman Anna Ross faced Lipscomb’s Popova in a close battle. Ross took the lead with a 7-6 victory in the first set but fell short in the second set, 6-4. In the third set the freshman outlasted Popova, 7-6 (9) to claim the match.
“I am very proud of Anna. I told Lipscomb’s coach before the match that I thought this match would be an incredible battle and that’s exactly what it was,” said Tsoubanos.
Senior Emma Kurtz took down Kansas’s Karvouni, 6-0, 7-6 (5) to close out the first day of the June Stewart Invitational undefeated.
The Commodores will take the court to compete in day two of the Invitational on Saturday at 9 a.m. in singles play followed by doubles at 1 p.m. The second round of singles will immediately follow.
Keep up with the Dores in their final fall tournament by following @VandyWTennis on Twitter and Instagram.
