Dores kick off fall tournament season in South Carolina, California

NASHVILLE – The women’s tennis team begins its fall tournament season this weekend by crisscrossing the United States. While senior Fernanda Contreras began competition on Thursday in the Oracle ITA Masters in Malibu, Calif., the remainder of the Commodores are in Greenville, S.C. competing in the the Debbie Southern Fall Classic.
 
Contreras, ranked No. 7 in preseason ITA rankings, comes in as the No. 1 seed overall in singles play at Oracle ITA Masters. Contreras earned her first national championship last season, taking the singles title at the 2017 ITA All-American Championships. The Commodore senior hopes to continue her success this weekend, competing once more at the Malibu Racquet Club.
 
Contreras and her mixed doubles partner, Guanarteme Nuez of Texas-Arlington, prevailed Thursday in California. The duo defeated Derkas/Vasilescu, 6-0 advancing to the Round of 16 which will be played late Thursday following the first round of men’s singles play.
 
After winning her mixed doubles match, No. 7 Contreras competed in the first round of women’s singles play where she defeated No. 32 Reka Szentes from Alabama State in straight sets; 6-0, 6-0. Contreras now advances to the round of 16 in singles play which takes place Friday at Pepperdine University.
 
The rest of Vanderbilt’s women’s tennis team will travel to Greenville this Friday to kick off their fall season at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic hosted by Furman University. The Dores will compete against 10 teams all ranked in the top-40 in the preseason ITA Collegiate Tennis rankings; Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, South Carolina, Texas and Wake Forest. The No. 2-ranked Commodores are the highest-ranked team at the tournament.
 
The fall classic will kick off Friday beginning at 8 a.m. CT and continue through Sunday championship rounds. Teams will open up with two rounds of doubles beginning early Friday then conclude the day with the first round of singles.
 
The Dores feature six veteran players this weekend, including three top-100 ranked players: No. 30 Christina Rosca, No. 79 Amanda Meyer and No. 98 Summer Dvorak. The doubles tandems competing Friday morning are Christina Rosca and Amanda Meyer, Summer Dvorak and Emma Kurtz and Emily Smith alongside freshman Carolyn Campana. Campana will be making her debut as a Commodore Friday morning.
  
To keep up with Contreras, watch the Oracle ITA Masters live at: https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/2018/8/7/playsight.aspx
 
Follow @Vandywtennis on Twitter and Instagram for updates on both the Debbie Southern Fall Classic and the Oracle ITA Masters.