Oracle/ITA Masters – Live Stats
Sept. 18, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday was a busy day for women’s tennis as seven Commodores were stretched coast to coast, battling in their first tournaments of the 2015-16 season.
In Malibu, Calif., three student-athletes began competing Friday morning in the inaugural Oracle ITA Masters, the first national collegiate championship of the season.
In singles action, No. 7 Sydney Campbell competed against a tough first round opponent in Oklahoma States No. 12 Viktoriya Lushkova. Although a hard fought battle, the Commodore junior fell 6-2, 6-1.
After taking the opening set in a close 6-4 battle, No. 14 Astra Sharma suffered an upset loss to Pepperdine’s freshman Luisa Stefani. In the second set, Sharma broke the Pepperdine serve to take a 5-2 lead, but then allowed Stefani five consecutive games, which would force the third set. After battling back and forth throughout the final set, Stefani advanced on a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
“It’s a really early tournament and has great competition,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “Keeping in perspective both Sydney (Campbell) and Astra (Sharma) haven’t had a chance to play a lot of matches due to some injuries and didn’t get as much match play coming into the fall as they did last year… So right now it’s all about learning and just getting better, and we’re going to try to get a little better tomorrow.”
Following singles action, No. 4 Courtney Colton and Campbell faced UNC’s No. 15 duo of Hayley Carter and Whitney Kay. Vanderbilt raced out to a quick 4-1 lead to only give up one additional game in the tandems 6-2 first set victory.
Using the first set as motivation, the Tar Heels competed hard throughout the second set, taking a 4-1 lead of their own; only to be countered by Colton and Campbell as the pair leveled the score to 5-all.
Vandy earned a crucial break, taking the 6-5 lead and opportunity to serve for the match. In the last contest of the night, Colton and Campbell earned their first victory of the fall preseason, 6-2, 7-5 and look forward to facing Southern Cal’s Olmos and Smith in Saturday’s semifinal.
“Courtney (Colton) and Sydney played one of the best doubles matches I’ve seen. It was a really high level match and they did great. I’ve very proud of their doubles. We play two singles tomorrow (consolation) for both Sydney and Astra and one doubles… we’re just out here having a great time!”
Over on the east coast, the day started out bright in Florida for the `Dores as both doubles teams took their quarterfinal matches in the Miami Invite. Both wins were the first collegiate victories for freshmen Summer Dvorak and Fernanda Contreras.
Top-seeded Frances Altick and Contreras only allowed Pitt’s Ogungbesan and Washington one game in their 6-1 victory. Ellie Yates and Dvorak generated an SEC win to begin the tournament in a 6-4 victory over Auburn’s Blanno/Dikosavljevic.
In doubles semifinal action, Yates/Dvorak swept the Hurricanes’ Fuentes/Ogando, 6-0. The duo faces Auburn’s Muller/Turner at 1:00 pm CT in Saturday’s final.
In singles action the `Dores went 3-1, with two victories over SEC foe Auburn.
Yates took the court first out of the quartet of Commodores, giving a powerful performance in Coral Gables. The Ridgeland, Miss. native went 3-0 on the day, after earning a 6-3, 6-2 win over Georgia Tech’s Rasheeda McAdoo just before storms hit and halted match play for three hours.
Once tournament action resumed, Contreras collected her first singles win, and over an SEC opponent no less. The San Luis Potosi, Mexico native defeated Auburn’s Caroline Turner; 6-2, 6-3. The `Dores lone singles loss came at the hands of the Tiger’s Paula de Man as the senior defeated Dvorak; 6-1, 6-4
Wrapping up competition for the `Dores was Altick, who ended the day with a 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory over Auburn’s Reka Muller.
Oracle/ITA Results:
Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) def. Sydney Campbell (VU) 6-2, 6-1
Luisa Stefani (Pepp) def. Astra Sharma (VU) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Doubles:
Courtney Colton/Sydney Campbell (VU) def. Hayley Carter/Whitney Kay (UNC) 6-2, 7-5
Miami Results:
o-16 Ellie Yates (VU) def. Rasheeda McAdoo (GT) 6-3, 6-2
g-16 Fernanda Contreras (VU) def. Caroline Turner (AU) 6-2, 6-3
o-16 Paula de Man (AU) def. Summer Dvorak (VU) 6-1, 6-4
o-16 #49 Frances Altick (VU) def. Reka Muller (AU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
Doubles:
o-qf Frances Altick/Fernanda Contreras (VU) def. Lolade Ogungbesan/Amber Washington (Pitt) 6-1
g-qf Summer Dvorak/Ellie Yates (VU) def. Sofia Blanno/Andie Dikosavljevic (AU) 6-4
o-sf Clara Tanielian/Wendy Zhang (MU) def. Frances Altick/Fernanda Contreras (VU) 7-6 (7-2)
g-sf Summer Dvorak/Ellie Yates (VU) def. Silvia Fuentes/Yolimar Ogando (MU)