April 4, 2018
The second-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team caps regular season home play this weekend, hosting the 33rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday at 4 p.m. and the 37th-ranked LSU Tigers in the home finale on Sunday at 10:50.
Prior to first serve on Saturday, the Commodores will honor their two senior leaders, Payton Robinette and Astra Sharma.
Heading into the weekend, Vanderbilt sits at 15-3 overall and 8-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Last weekend, the Commodores earned their ninth top-25 victory in a 4-1 victory over No. 20 Kentucky.
The Commodores look to preserve their undefeated home record, as the team rides a 20-match win streak while competing at the Currey Tennis Center. Before the Dores’ loss to Ohio State on Feb. 5, 2017, the squad had strung together 37-straight home wins, giving VU a 57-1 home mark since the beginning of the 2013-14 season.
Commodore Notables:
- Vanderbilt ranks second in the country, behind North Carolina, who VU beat 4-3 earlier this season
- The Commodores began the season ranked second and have not left the ITA top 10
- VU owns 12 ranked wins, with nine victories coming against top 25 teams
- Vanderbilt is the only school boasting two student-athletes in the ITA top-10 singles poll
- Fernanda Contreras leads the SEC in singles, coming in at No. 3 in the country (career high)
- Astra Sharma is back in the top-10, ranked ninth in the nation
- VU has three ranked doubles pairings; No. 22 – Christina Rosca/ Emma Kurtz, No. 26 – Contreras/Sharma and No. 46 Emily Smith/Kurtz
- VU defeated Texas A&M (4-2) and LSU (4-0) last season
Analyzing the Aggies:
- Texas A&M owns a 15-5 overall record and 5-4 conference slate
- The Aggies are 4-4 when competing against ranked opponents
- A&M was defeated in its last competition, falling to No. 10 Ole Miss 4-2
- Aggie senior Macarena Olivares has been named the SEC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
- The Aggies boast two ranked players; No. 77 Macarena Olivares and No. 125 Domenica Gonzalez
- Domenica Gonzalez and Eva Paalma are ranked 50thin doubles action
- Gonzales owns a 14-2 mark at No. 1 singles
Scouting the Tigers:
- LSU owns a 13-6 overall mark, going 4-5 in league play and 0-3 on the road
- The Tigers’ upcoming road trip will see them square off against No. 28 Kentucky in Lexington on Thursday before Sunday’s match against VU
- LSU defeated Mississippi State 4-2 in their latest competiton
- Jessica Golovin and Eden Richardson are 36thin the nation in tandems
- LSU boasts four singles players in the ITA rankings; Elyse Lavender (68), Jessica Golovin (82), Eden Richardson (96) and Ryann Foster (121)