NASHVILLE, Tenn. – What promised to be one of the tougher sites for matches this weekend during the ITA Kick-Off turned into two dogfights on the courts, as No. 17 Vanderbilt defeated No. 30 Arizona and No. 15 Texas defeated No. 23 Alabama in matches that both ended in a 4-3 decision that came down to the last court.
Lauren Mira battled with Kim Stubbe of the Wildcats in a first set that saw several games locked at deuces for multiple advantage changes before Stubbe won in a tiebreaker.
The two played a marathon match lasting nearly four hours before Stubbe retired down in the third set of a 6-7(6-4), 6-3, 2-1 decision that clinched the win for the Commodores.
“Arizona is a quality team and I commend them. It’s difficult to win a match like this,” said Head Coach Geoff Macdonald. “I’m really proud of Mira, she played a two hour first set and lost it, and still hung around to win the second set. Not everyone can do that; they’d be so disappointed in losing the first set they’d give up, but Mira didn’t do that.”
With her straight 4, 4 set victories, Ashleigh Antal remained undefeated on the season, beating Susan Mc Rann. Nelly Radeva won straight sets to keep the Commodores in the match after the team dropped their doubles point, and Jackie Wu won her third set 6-2 after splitting.
“It was a really good team victory, and we look forward to playing Texas tomorrow,” said Macdonald.
Vanderbilt will face the Longhorns tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. CT in the Championship round, while the Crimson Tide will take on Arizona at 9:00 a.m. CT in the battle for third place. The winner of the weekend will move on to play in the next round of the ITA’s event.
Sixty schools are competing across the country this weekend for the 15 vacant spots at the ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship, to be hosted next month by the University of Virginia.
Vanderbilt 4-Arizona 3
Results:
Doubles:
1. Lacey Smyth-Natasha Marks (AZ) def. Jackie Wu-Alex Leatu (VU) 8-5
2. Ashleigh Antal-Marie Casares (VU) def. Sarah Landsman-Hailey Johnson (AZ) 8-4
3. Kim Stubbe-Susan Mc Rann (AZ) def. Lauren Mira-Nelly Radeva (VU) 8-3
Singles:
1. #23 Jackie Wu (VU) def. #107 Lacey Smith (AZ) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
2. #69 Lauren Mira (VU) def. Kim Stubbe (AZ) 6-7(6-4), 6-3, 2-1 ret.
3. #57 Natasha Marks (AZ) def. #110 Marie Casares (VU) 6-3, 6-7(9-7), 6-0
4. Sarah Landsman (AZ) def. Alex Leatu (VU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Ashleigh Antal (VU) def. Susan Mc Rann (AZ) 6-4, 6-4
6. Nelly Radeva (VU) def. Laura Oldham (AZ) 6-1, 6-0
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 6-1; No. 17
Arizona 1-1; No. 30
Orders of finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1), Singles (4, 5, 1, 6, 3, 2)
Texas 4-Alabama 3 Results:
Singles:
1. #13 Mary Anne Macfarlane (Bama) def. #47 Aeriel Ellis (UT) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
2. #119 Noel Scott (UT) def. #43 Alexa Guarachi (Bama) 6-2, 6-4
3. Krista Damico (UT) def. #104 Courtney McLane (Bama) 6-1, 6-2
4. Alex Clay (Bama) def. Ceirra Gayton-Leach (UT) 6-2, 7-5
5. Lina Padegimaite (UT) def. Taylor Lindsey (Bama) 6-3, 6-1
6. Elizabeth Begley (UT) def. Antonia Foehse (Bama) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Guarachi-McLane (Bama) vs. Padegimaite-Scott, unf.
2. Macfarlane-Foehse (Bama) def. Ellis-Gayton-Leach, 8-6
3. Lindsey-Ebada (Bama) def. Damico-Martin (UT) 8-5
Match Notes:
Texas 2-1; National Ranking #15
Alabama 0-1; National Ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1u), Singles (3, 4, 5, 2, 1, 6)
