TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 11 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team picked up its first conference road win of the season as it defeated Alabama 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at the UA Varsity Courts in Tuscaloosa. The Commodores improve to 13-3 and 3-3 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Crimson Tide falls to 6-9 with a 2-4 mark in league matches.
The Commodores won the doubles point for the fifth consecutive match. Alabama jumped out to an early lead in doubles as Paulina Bigos and Andrea Brenes defeated Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery 8-5 at No. 1 doubles. The `Dores stormed back to win matches at the second and third doubles positions. Taka Bertrand and Keilly Ulery defeated Bianca Svensson and Shelley Godwin 8-6 at No. 3 doubles and Catherine Newman and Caroline Ferrell got past Tiffany Welcher and Meritt Emery 8-5 at the No. 2 doubles to secure the point for the Black and Gold. Vanderbilt improves to 11-0 on the season when it wins the doubles point.
No. 94 Bertrand extended Vanderbilt’s lead to 2-0 as she did not surrender a game in her singles match against Alice Tunaru at the third singles position. Bertrand won the match in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. The win extends her winning streak in singles to eight and improves her dual match record to 14-2, including a 5-1 mark in league matches.
No. 34 Newman picked up the third point for the Commodores with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Bigos at No. 2 singles. Newman improves her dual match record to 11-5.
Brenes picked up the first point for the Crimson Tide with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Ferrell at No. 6 singles.
No. 22 Taylor clinched the match for the Black and Gold with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Welcher at the first singles position. The win improves Taylor’s career record to 99-28, including a 12-4 mark in dual matches this year.
Alabama captured the last two singles matches. Emery defeated No. 58 Courtney Ulery 7-6, 7-6 at No. 4 singles, while Godwin got past Keilly Ulery 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (0) at No. 5 singles.
Vanderbilt now leads the all-time series 18-15 against Alabama and have won 14 straight meetings against the Crimson Tide.
Vanderbilt continues its final road trip of the season next weekend as it faces Ole Miss on Friday, March 28, and No. 59 Mississippi State on Sunday, March 30.
Sunday’s Results:
No. 11 Vanderbilt 4 def. Alabama 3
Doubles:
1. Paulina Bigos/Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) – 8-5
2. Caroline Ferrell/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Tiffany Welcher/Meritt Emery (UA) – 8-5
3. Taka Bertrand/Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Bianca Svensson/Shelley Godwin (UA) – 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles:
1. No. 22 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Tiffany Welcher (UA) – 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 34 Catherine Newman (VU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) – 6-2, 6-1
3. No. 94 Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Alice Tunaru (UA) – 6-0, 6-0
4. Merrit Emery (UA) def. No. 58 Courtney Ulery (VU) – 7-6, 7-6
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Keilly Ulery (VU) – 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (0)
6. Andrea Brenes (UA) def. Caroline Ferrell (VU) – 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 6, 1, 4, 5
Updated Team Records: Vanderbilt (13-3, 3-3 SEC); Alabama (6-9, 2-4 SEC)
