May 27, 2017
Athens, Ga. — No. 15 Sydney Campbell is now the first Commodore ever to advance to the NCAA tennis Final Four.
“It’s really exciting. I’m really happy with how I’m playing,” said the semifinalist. “Today I didn’t play my best, but I found a way to win anyway. I’m so proud to be representing Vanderbilt here and having fun in my last tournament. I keep waking up in Athens and playing a tennis match (laughs), it’s become routine and it’s been amazing. Coach (Geoff Macdonald) has just been encouraging me and giving me little tips on foot work and serves, but mainly we’re just trying to go out and have fun playing.”
Saturday afternoon, the Franklin, TN. native earned a three-set victory over Pepperdine’s No. 19 Ashley Lahley for a spot in the singles semifinals, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. In an interesting turn of events, Campbell also clinched Vanderbilt’s spot in the team semifinal in three sets over the same opponent this past Sunday.
Like Sunday’s competition, Lahey came out strong, taking the first set by a score of 6-3. Knowing her final match as a Commodore hung in the balance, the recent Vandy grad rallied to take the second and third matches.
“Ashley (Lahey) was coming right at me in the first set,” recalled Campbell, “but after I got a few games under my belt I felt more confident and in a rhythm. When I entered the second set I just reminded myself that I am in a better rhythm now and I’m going to come out and play like I have nothing to lose.”
Inspried from the first set loss, Campbell came out to take the 5-1 advantage, however Lahey thundered back into the competition after a slew of deuce points and unforced errors on Campbell’s end. Fourth-deuce point proved the charm as Campbell forced a deciding third set, walking away with the 6-4 set victory.
Campbell earned a swift 3-0 advantage in the third set. The Wave broke for her first point of the set off a deuce point, which Campbell sailed just wide. The Commodore only allowed Lahey one additional point and served for the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
With the victory, the Nashville local extends her match-winning streak to 15-straight matches. Looking ahead, the Commodore will face Michigan’s 24th-ranked Brienne Minor on Sunday.