May 5, 2016 | Vanderbilt All-Americans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NCAA tennis subcommittee released the singles and doubles tournament bids Wednesday afternoon with four Commodore representatives selected to make the trip to Tulsa, Okla.
The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 25-30 at the Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, following the conclusion of the team championship, which runs from May 19-24.
Of the 64 student-athletes selected, Frances Altick, Sydney Campbell and Astra Sharma will represent Vandy in singles play. Courtney Colton will join Campbell in tournament doubles action for the second year in a row.
“I’m really happy for all of the players who made the individual tournament,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “We focus on the team event, but obviously as individuals and doubles teams they all performed really well in a difficult schedule. You think of everyone in the country playing, and for us to have three singles players and a doubles team in… it’s pretty neat.”
This is the fourth time in Vanderbilt history where the Commodores will send a program-high four student-athletes to compete on the big stage (2015, 2005, 2001). Last season Sharma and Ashleigh Antal walked away from the tournament with All-American honors in doubles, having a sealed a spot in the round of 16… A huge accomplishment as both Commodores had been competing every day in Waco for almost a week straight.
Altick caps off a whirlwind season by earning a 9-16 seed in singles action. With the seed the Commodore is an automatic All-American, making her the sixth singles player to receive one of the highest honors in collegiate tennis. This is the second season in a row where VU has earned a seed in the tournament, with Campbell achieving the feat last season.
“Frances making All-American fills me with joy. No one deserves the award more. I think everyone in college tennis admires her and is happy for her, because they know that she did it with incredible passion and with the desire to improve. I just salute her and think the others can earn it, but to get it on the front end takes a little pressure off her.”
Boasting a 17-2 singles record this season and a career high ranking of No. 13, Altick helped Vanderbilt to a 88.9% and 89.5% win percentage at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
“As one of the coaches who has worked with Frances I have to give a lot of credit to Aleke (Tsounanos) and Kieran (Burke). Aleke has helped Frances improve her doubles play over her four years, and Kieran has helped her develop more of an offensive game and I give them both a lot of credit.”
A native of Franklin, Tenn., Campbell will be making her second appearance in the singles tournament after advancing to the second round in 2015 at the eighth overall seed. Owning a 13-7 record as the No. 1 singles player, the junior knocked off seven ranked opponents this spring, all in the ITA top-65.
Redshirt sophomore Sharma will also be making back-to-back appearances in the singles tournament, having earned All-American prestige last season in the doubles draw with then-senior Antal. The Perth, Australia native has dominated court three this season, earning a career-high No. 14 ranking earlier this season and compiling an 8-1 record for the Commodores.
A powerhouse doubles duo, Colton/Campbell look to make waves in this seasons’ doubles draw, where the duo are one of 32 selected tandems. Conference wise, three No. 1 SEC doubles teams make up the eight seeds.
Before the singles and doubles tournament, the Commodores will host team regionals May 13-14 at the Currey Tennis Center.
