Chattanooga, Tenn. – Concluding day three of the Ohio Valley ITA Regionals, the Commodores left the courts with four singles players advancing to the semifinals along with two semifinal-bound Commodore duos.
The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team opened up day three competing in the singles Round of 16 where four Dores earned victories advancing to the quarterfinals.
No. 18 seed Carolyn Campana earned a straight-set win, 6-2, 6-0 upsetting No. 2 seed Akvile Paražinskaite and advancing the freshman to her first regional quarterfinals.
Senior Emily Smith took on Indiana’s Madison Appel in the Round of 16, dominating the court in a straight-set win, 6-4, 6-4 earning the senior a spot in the quarterfinals of her last ITA regionals.
Joining Campana and Smith in the quarterfinals, sophomore Amanda Meyer and juniors Emma Kurtz and Christina Rosca conquered their courts in the Round of 16 earning Vandy five spots in the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals were nothing short of a success for the Dores with four players advancing to the semifinals; Campana, Meyer, Rosca and Smith.
No. 1 singles seed Rosca competed against Tennessee’s Kaitlin Staines, dominating the first set, 6-3. In the second set, Rosca kept up her momentum by clinching a 7-5 victory over the Vol advancing Rosca to the semifinals.
“I’m happy with my progression in level of play this tournament so far and hope to keep improving on it tomorrow. Focusing in on limiting the free points I give my opponent, as well as executing a game plan that bothers their game has been effective in my success so far. It’s exciting that the team as a whole is doing so well and I look forward to watching us compete in the semifinals tomorrow,” said Rosca.
Coming off of singles play, three Dore doubles pairs once again took the courts in the doubles quarterfinal round.
Two pairs earned victories: No. 2 doubles seed Rosca/Dvorak defeating Tennessee’s McGiffin/ Silva, 8-5 and No. 9 seed Kurtz/Campana shutting out Lipscomb’s Dzyuba/Popova, 8-0, advancing both Vandy duos to the semifinals of doubles play.
Head coach Geoff Macdonald gave his team the utmost credit for its performance so far in the regional tournament.
“The team has faced a lot of good competition this weekend, staying very focused and executing very strongly. The days here are long and I am proud of the way all seven players have been ready and focused when it is time to play,” said Macdonald.
“Overall, I am very happy with each and every one of their performances and look forward to watching them take the courts tomorrow in the semifinal rounds.”
The Dores compete for a chance at making it to the championship rounds beginning Sunday morning. Keep up with the Commodore’s success by following @Vandywtennis on Instagram and Twitter.
