NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team won their singles matches across the board in the final day of the June Stewart Invitational.
The freshmen, Ashleigh Antal and Marie Casares, both won their matches in convincing style, beating their opponents in straight sets to round out a strong weekend of play in their first home tournament.
Senior Megan Gornet also won her match against Belmont’s Mersan for a 6-1, 6-3 win.
“I thought Megan Gornet regrouped and played a really solid match today,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “I thought the freshmen had a great tournament. They had three really good wins in doubles. I thought it was a really good showing for Marie Casares to beat two really good players. And Lauren Mira played a really tough, well-competed third set today.”
Mira, who split her sets, battled in the third to win her match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
“I like the way I competed,” said Mira. “I feel like I could have hit the ball better, but given the conditions it was pretty good. For me personally, I had a goal to flatten my forehand out more and I did that. I’m really happy with everyone, especially the freshmen, they dominated.”
The women head to the Purdue Invitational next weekend as a team, with the exception of senior Jackie Wu, who heads to New York for the USTA/ITA National Indoors after winning the Ohio Valley Regionals last week.
“I’m looking forward to having seven players up at Purdue, and finishing the fall competitive season on a high note,” said Macdonald.
Sunday’s Results:
Casares (Vanderbilt) def. Welcher (Memphis) 6-2, 6-4
Mira (Vanderbilt) def. Hibberd (Memphis) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Antal (Vanderbilt) def. Nomoto (MTSU) 6-0, 6-1
Gornet (Vanderbilt) def. Mersan (Belmont) 6-1, 6-3
Quicknote: The one and only June Stewart surprised the team with an appearance today. Stewart, whom the tournament is named after, was a senior administrator at the Vanderbilt for 28 years, and a female pioneer in college athletics. She was one of the most influential women in the SEC by her retirement in 2000.
