March 11, 2016
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The fifth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores have a big match on the horizon, as the squad travels down to Gainesville, Fla. to take on the No. 18 Florida Gators Saturday, March 12, at 12:00 pm CT.
For the `Dores to have success in the swamp the squad will need to put a harsh road loss to the Gamecocks behind them. Thursday night VU dropped the doubles point and a 3-1 lead, leaving Columbia, S.C with their first conference loss since of the season, (1-1).
But the Commodores are a gritty team, with a never back down spirit. Vanderbilt plans to utilize its ranked doubles team, and three top-35 singles players against the Gators.
Vanderbilt heads into Saturday’s match having dropped the doubles point six times this season. The Commodores changed up their lineup and pairings prior to SEC season, with No. 61 Ellie Yates and Astra Sharma at No. 1.
In singles, Frances Altick remains undefeated on the season and owns the No. 16 spot in the country. With a 7-0 record, Altick remains a force to be reckoned with on courts two and three.
Sydney Campbell comes in at No. 24 in the latest Oracle/ITA rankings, with a 6-2 overall record. The junior dropped her first match of conference against SC’s No. 1-9 Caroline Daily in three sets; 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2.
Astra Sharma rounds out the rankings, coming in with a 6-1 record and the 33rd ranking in the country.
Florida heads into Saturday’s dual with an 8-2 overall record, and 3-0 SEC slate. In conference action, the Gators have defeated then-No. 35Arkansas (6-1), No 57 Mizzou (7-0) and most recently the 19th-ranked Wildcats 6-1.
In Thursday’s competition against Kentucky, Florida dropped the doubles point for the first time this season. In tandems, the Gators have four possible ranked pairings with Kourtney Keegan and Brooke Austin leading at No. 7.
Individually, five of the six Gators used in the singles lineup against Kentucky are ranked; Belinda Woolcocks (No. 5), Brooke Austin (No. 15), Kourtney Keegan (No. 37), Josie Kuhlman (No. 108) and Brianna Morgan (No. 121).
Last season the Commodores defeated the Gators three times, in regular season (4-1), at the SEC tournament (4-2), and in the NCAA quarterfinals (4-3). No other team has ever downed Florida three times in one season.