MASON, Ohio — It was a near flawless Friday for Vanderbilt women's tennis as the Commodores netted seven total victories in the opening round of the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championship main draw from the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Junior Trinetra Vijayakumar and sophomore Erin Pearce got the ball rolling for the black and gold in singles, with the former defeating Cincinnati's Tara Kurepa 6-4, 6-3 and the latter taking down Gabriella Davydov of Purdue 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Sophomore Mia Yamakita continued the Dores' streak after a 6-1, 6-2 win over Middle Tennessee's Sthefany Lima.
After generating three singles wins at All-Americans, junior Sophia Webster stayed hot in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback versus Nina Chavez from Miami (Ohio). The No. 1 seeded and No. 14 ranked senior Valeria Ray clinched the final singles victory of the day, 6-3, 6-2, against Belmont's Emmi Kolyszko.
Vandy extended the momentum into doubles play, notching two wins to cap off the opening round of the main draw. Vijayakumar, playing alongside freshman Julie Jirakova, knocked off Caroline Van Der Riet and Didi Steenhuis of Northern Kentucky 8-0 for their first victory as a pair this season. Pearce and Yamakita rounded out play with an 8-2 defeat of Middle Tennessee's Maria Palacios and Lena Peyer.
Tomorrow begins with the doubles round of 32 followed by singles action. The tournament overview, entry list, draws, results and more can be accessed via the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championship tournament page.
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Day 1 Results:
SINGLES
• Vijayakumar [Vanderbilt] def. Kurepa [Cincinnati] 6-4, 6-3
• Pearce [Vanderbilt] def. Davydov [Purdue] 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
• Yamakita [Vanderbilt] def. Lima [Middle Tennessee] 6-1, 6-2
• Webster [Vanderbilt] def. Chavez [Miami] 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
• No. 14 Ray [Vanderbilt] def. Kolyszko [Belmont] 6-3, 6-2
• Nehir Dogan [Purdue] def. Nicole Weng [Vanderbilt] 6-2, 6-1
DOUBLES
• Jirakova/Vijayakumar [Vanderbilt] def. Steenhuis/Van Der Riet [Northern Kentucky] 8-0
• Pearce/Yamakita [Vanderbilt] def. Palacios/Peyer [Middle Tennessee] 8-2