ATHENS, Ga. – Following a 4-2 victory over No. 18 Georgia, the 14th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team concludes the first weekend of SEC play 2-0.
With the win, the `Dores improve to 7-4 on the season, and have won the last three of four competitions against the Bulldogs.
“Today’s win was an amazing team effort,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “The freshman are learning so much. We’re 2-0 in SEC matches now, and to travel to Knoxville and Athens and get wins is a great start. We have the utmost respect for both of those teams. Our win Friday against Tennessee was a very good win. They’re much improved. Georgia is one of the best programs in the game, and to beat them in Athens was special.”
The Commodores found themselves in a 1-0 hole after close doubles competitions on all three courts. UGA’s Ellen Perez and Carolina Brinson took the first victory of the afternoon with a 6-4 win over No. 32 Astra Sharma and Emily Smith. The point was clinched in the Bulldogs’ favor at No. 3 doubles, as Marta Gonzales and Mariana Gould defeated Fernanda Contreras and Christina Rosca in a tiebreaker, 7-6(3).
In singles, the Commodores took four first sets, with all four of those student-athletes later contributing to straight set wins for the black and gold. Freshman Emma Kurtz earned the clinch for the black and gold.
“I really enjoyed feeling all the energy from my teammates around me,” said Kurtz. “It was a really great feeling clinching against UGA. Before the match the girls told us about their experiences with Georgia and to expect a large crowd with lots of cheering, and I think that helped.”
No. 5 Astra Sharma earned the first singles victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win over her fellow countryman, No. 62 Ellen Perez. In an ITA top-20 Sunday showdown, No. 15 Sydney Campbell knocked off No. 16 Elena Christofi, 6-2, 6-4, to give Vandy a 2-1 lead over Georgia.
On court six, Austin, Texas’ own Fernanda Contreras extended Vanderbilt’s lead to 3-1, as the sophomore downed ITA All-American Mariana Gould, 6-0, 6-4. UGA’s lone singles victory came on court three as No. 44 Kennedy Shaffer took her first set 6-3 over Georgina Sellyn and pulled off the win following a close 6-4 second set.
The Commodores’ Kurtz delivered the final blow at No. 5 singles, earning her first ranked win at Vanderbilt with a victory over No. 111 Gonzalez, 6-1, 6-4. No. 60 Rosca had just forced a third set against No. 41 Brinson when the match was clinched.
“Throughout the match I was just trying to focus on my court and do what I could to help the team,” Kurtz said. “This win was over one of our toughest conference opponents and makes us 2-0 in the SEC. We’re all feeling really positive about our play lately and look forward to playing at home next weekend.”
Vandy continues SEC play next weekend, hosting Mississippi State Friday at 4 pm and Ole Miss Sunday at 1 pm.
