No. 5 VU Women’s Tennis Sweeps No. 22 Alabama, 7-0

No. 5 VU Women’s Tennis Sweeps No. 22 Alabama, 7-0

3/26/2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The fifth-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team earned its ninth shutout win of the season with a 7-0 victory over 22nd-ranked Alabama at the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center Friday. The Commodores swept through doubles play and then earned straight-set wins on the first five courts to take the Southeastern Conference match.

The third-ranked pair of Kelly Schmandt and Aleke Tsoubanos notched the Commodores first win on center court, defeating Ashley Bentley and Robin Stephenson, the 35-ranked duo in the nation, 8-4. The Commodores clinched the first team point at second doubles, where junior Audra Falk and freshman Amanda Fish earned an 8-4 win over Nathalie Koppelle and Melissa Minor.

Sophomore Ashley Schellhas and freshman Helene Stephens were also victorious in doubles play. They defeated Millie Begovic and Mari Muller at third doubles in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (4).

The Commodores looked strong in singles play, taking first sets on all six courts. Schellhas was the first to close out her match — a 6-0, 6-3 win over Minor at fifth singles. She was followed less than a minute later by No. 90 Fish, who defeated Koppelle at third singles, 6-0, 6-2.

The Crimson Tide tried to show a little life, winning the second set on court six and pushing the remaining three courts to 5-5. But Vanderbilt quickly slammed the door shut. Tsoubanos clinched the Commodore victory at fourth singles with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Begovic.

At sixth singles, Stephens earned her first career SEC victory, defeating Muller, 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8). The focus then shifted back up to the top two courts. The 79th-ranked Schmandt closed out 57th-ranked Bentley, 7-5, 7-5, with a break of serve on a UA double fault. No. 25 Falk finished the sweep at first singles, defeating No. 37 Stephenson, 7-5, 7-6 (5).

The Commodores (16-2, 6-1 SEC) play host to Auburn on Sunday, March 28, at the Currey Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at Noon CT.

No. 5 Vanderbilt def. No. 22 Alabama, 7-0
March 26 — Nashville, Tenn.
 
Doubles
1. No. 3 Schmandt/Tsoubanos (VU) def. No 35 Bentley/Stephenson (UA), 8-4
2. Falk/Fish (VU) def. Koppelle/Minor (UA), 8-4
3. Schellhas/Stephens (VU) def. Bedovic/Muller (UA), 8-7 (4)
Order of finish: 1, 2*, 3
 
Singles
1. No. 25 Audra Falk (VU) def. No. 37 Robin Stephenson (UA), 7-5, 7-6 (5)
2. No. 79 Kelly Schmandt (VU) def. No. 57 Ashley Bentley (UA), 7-5, 7-5
3. No. 90 Amanda Fish (VU) def. Nathalie Koppelle (UA), 6-0, 6-2
4. Aleke Tsoubanos (VU) def. Millie Begovic (UA), 6-2, 7-5
5. Ashley Schellhas (VU) def. Melissa Minor (UA), 6-0, 6-3
6. Helene Stephens (VU) def. Mari Muller (UA), 7-5, 3-6, (10-8)
Order of finish: 5, 3, 4*, 6, 2, 1