Jan. 15, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
The No. 11 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team kicks-off its season traveling down to Coral Gables, Fla. to compete in the Miami Spring Invite. The Commodores will be vying against three teams in the ITA top-50; Miami (No. 12), Texas (No. 22), and Utah (No. 44).
“This is the third year in a row that we’ve come down to Miami to start our spring season,” said Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald. “It’s great to come to south Florida and play three really great teams as we get ready for the kick-off weekend. You really want to get some good match play under your belt before the duel season begins. We’ve had great practices and I think everyone is just excited to begin competing.”
The three-day event will take place at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Formatted as a round-robin tournament, the Commodores will be facing Utah in doubles and Texas in singles on Friday.
“I don’t know who is exactly going to play in singles and doubles because we’re going to switch things up a little bit. This is a chance to try a different lineup, different doubles teams, and give some people experience. Another thing is that the other coaches will be thinking this same way, so it’s not like a duel where you can look out and say ‘Oh that’s their number one doubles team, this is ours, they’re going to play’, it’s a little more of a tournament format in some aspects. It really gives some people some opportunities who didn’t get many I the fall. For instance, Frances [Altick] was injured in the fall so we want to get a good look at her, things like that.”
Fall Recap
Vanderbilt women’s tennis had a very productive fall; capturing solid wins all while gaining invaluable experience. In what was the best regional showing out of any Commodore contingent, five student-athletes competed in regional singles quarterfinals, four in semifinals, and a doubles team in regional finals.
Junior Courtney Colton and sophomore Sydney Campbell competed in the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, competing against the country’s most elite athletes.
Two new faces joined the Vandy tennis squad; with both freshman Payton Robinette and junior transfer Ellie Yates picked up several wins in fall tournament play.
Commodores in the rankings
Vandy boasts two ranked singles players in the first set of ITA rankings; No. 15 sophomore Sydney Campbell and No. 77 senior Marie Casares.
The Commodores also have two doubles teams in the top-40; No. 20 Ellie Yates and Marie Casares, and No. 32 Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell
Scouting Report
Host team, No. 12 Miami, has the most ranked players in five, with all athletes in the ITA top-100. However, the Commodores have already seen some the talent Miami brings to the tournament after No. 7 Stephanie Wagner defeated the ‘Dores in close three set matches this fall in both singles and doubles.
Wagner and partner Lina Lileikite comprise the No. 8 tandems team in the country. The Hurricanes also are the home to two other doubles duos in the top-40.
Both Texas and Utah have one ranked player amongst their team. Texas’ Breaunna Addison is currently ranked No. 84, and Utah’s Tereza Bekerova comes in at No. 100.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Doubles (Beginning at 9:00am): Miami vs. Texas (Courts 1-4) and Utah vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 5-8)
Singles: Miami vs. Utah (Courts 1-4) and Texas vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 5-8)
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Doubles (Beginning at 9:00 a.m.): Miami vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 1-4) and Texas vs. Utah (Courts 5-8)
Singles: Miami vs. Texas (Courts 1-4) and Utah vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 5-8)
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Doubles (Beginning at 8:00 a.m.): Miami vs. Utah (Courts 1-4) and Texas vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 5-8)
Singles: Miami vs. Vanderbilt (Courts 1-4) and Texas vs. Utah (Courts 5-8)