NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 12 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated to the No. 6 Baylor Bears Sunday afternoon in the Currey Tennis Center handing the Bears their second loss of the season. The 4-3 victory comes off three hard losses which the ‘Dores used as motivation to complete the upset. With the win the Commodores improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-0 at home.
“Baylor is a great team and a great program,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “We have the utmost respect for their team and their coaches, and we know they’re going to be really really good. I’m really proud of the team for just going after the match today and just competing. They didn’t play with any fear”
The Commodores came out victorious in doubles giving Baylor its fourth doubles loss of the team, taking courts two and three.
Seniors Ashleigh Antal and Astra Sharma made quick won on two defeating the Bear’s tandem of Leolia JeanJean and Theresa Van Zyl; 6-2. Vandy took a hard loss on court one as the Bear’s No. 27 Ema Burgic and Blair Shankle defeated No. 18 Sydney Campbell and Courtney Colton; 6-1.
It may have been a cold day outside, but No. 15 Sydney Campbell’s 6-0 first set heated things up for the ‘Dores as momentum continued to edge their way. Campbell took the second set, 6-4 over the Bears’ No. 27 Ema Burgic; her third loss of the entire year.
“Sydney (Campbell) had a really good win at one and really took it to her (Burgic). There was a little turbulence in the second set and she regrouped and did a wonderful job. But in a couple of positions they just outplayed us. Where they beat us, they really beat us. ”
Baylor came out strong on courts two, three, and four delivering the ‘Dores three hard losses which forced junior Frances Altick and senior Marie Casares to finish out their match with close to perfect play.
Altick gave a tremendous performance against Baylor’s Kelley Anderson. After falling in the first set, 6-3, the junior used the loss as motivation fueling her through a tough second set to win 7-5. The Commodore earned a solid win on her 21st birthday taking the third set and victory; 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. With the win the Commodore ended Kelley’s five-match win streak and tied the match at 3-all.
“I give Frances (Altick) a lot of credit. To get the third point she was down was great. She really kept her poise and competed beautifully. You know she was in a heat-breaker last weekend and to show that resiliency and poise under pressure was remarkable. I say the same thing about Marie Casares, who has had a couple of tough 4-3 matches.”
Senior Marie Casares came in clutch for the Commodores sealing the victory in straight sets; 6-4, 6-3. Casares served for the win and won as the ball was retuned into the net. Following the Baylor error, the Commodore team rushed the court enveloping Casares in hugs and cheers.
With the victory, the Commodores now look to SEC play as they host Mississippi State Feb. 27th at 4 p.m.
No. 12 Vanderbilt, 4 No. 6 Baylor, 3
Doubles:
1) No. 27 Ema Burgic/Blair Shankle (Baylor) def. No. 18 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton (Vandy); 6-1
2) Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (Vandy) def. Leolia JeanJean/Theresa Van Zyl (Baylor); 6-2
3) Frances Altick/Marie Casares (Vandy) def. Kelley Anderson/Kiah Generette (Baylor); 6-3*
Order of finish; 2, 1, 3*
Singles:
1) No. 15 Sydney Campbell (Vandy) def. No. 19 Ema Burgic (Baylor); 6-0, 6-4
2) Blair Shankle (Baylor) def. No. 71 Courtney Colton (Vandy); 6-1, 7-5
3) Kiah Generette (Baylor) def. Astra Sharma (Vandy); 6-0, 6-3
4) No. 89 Frances Altick (Vandy) def. Kelley Anderson (Baylor); 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
5) Leolia JeanJean (Baylor) def. Ashleigh Antal (Vandy); 6-4, 6-1
6) No. 62 Marie Casares (Vandy) def. No. 86 Rachael James-Baker (Baylor); 6-4, 6-3*
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 4, 6*
