CARY, N.C. — Senior Célia-Belle Mohr and freshman Sophia Webster pulled out a tiebreak thriller for the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team at the ITA All-American Championships on Tuesday. Both pairs of Dores faced opponents from UCLA, who is coached by Webster’s mother, Stella Sampras Webster.
“Playing a team like UCLA is always difficult because it hits really close to home; I feel like it is a special part of me,” Webster said. “With my mom being the coach, I know she wants what’s best for me but also has a job to do. I think that is something I already understood for myself going into the match. Once we started playing I kind of forgot all about the situation and just tried to focus on playing each point.”
The No. 29-ranked duo picked up right where they left off from Monday, taking the first set 6-4 over UCLA’s Olivia Center and Kate Fakih. The Bruins clamped down on the Commodores in the second, evening the match with a 6-1 set win. This led to a third-set tiebreaker where Mohr and Webster looked to shift the momentum, taking the opening two points. UCLA, however, was not yet finished scoring; Center and Fakih bounced back and controlled the next four points. The Bruins eventually pushed the score to 8-6 in the 10-point set. With their backs against the wall, Mohr and Webster rallied to win four-straight points and steal the tiebreaker, 10-8.
“Super finish by Célia and Sophia over UCLA to advance today,” head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “They were down late in the 10-point tie break and played some great defense with quick reaction points to seal [the match]. Happy for them to get an opportunity now in the main draw tomorrow.”
Sophomore Valeria Ray and junior Bridget Stammel came up just short in their doubles matchup against UCLA. The two fell 6-4 to the Bruins’ No. 28-ranked Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer in the first set. Ray and Stammel battled through multiple contested points in the second set but could not gain control over their UCLA opponents. The Dores bowed out of the doubles draw in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
“Tough one for Valeria and Bridget,” Tsoubanos said. “They were right there the entire match and UCLA just executed on some big points, both from the backcourt and at net. The two are developing nicely as a doubles pairing and will have more opportunities this fall.”
Mohr opens the action for the Commodores on Wednesday. She matches up with Baylor’s Cristina Tiglea tomorrow at 9 a.m. CT as she begins singles play in the main draw. Stammel also takes the court in the opening round of the singles main draw, facing Emma Jackson of Duke at noon. Mohr and Webster look to continue their doubles streak against Virginia’s Margaret Navarro and Sara Ziodato at 3 p.m.
