NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13 Vanderbilt completed its SEC weekend sweep as it defeated the Ole Miss Rebels; 6-1. With the win the Commodores improve to 7-5 overall, with a 2-0 conference slate.
“We knew how good an opponent Ole Miss is and how dangerous they can be, so we came into today’s match very ready”, said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “I thought we played one of the best matches in terms of keeping pressure on them the whole time. We played great overall tennis; defense, hustle, offense… I was overall very pleased with today’s performance, people didn’t let up at all. We got ahead and just kept at them. Last year we beat them 4-3 in a really close match, so we definitely respect them and always know it’s going to be a really great match.”
The `Dores began the afternoon with No. 19 Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell powering through the Rebel’s Iris Verboven and Erin Stephens. The Commodore duo conquered their first SEC match; 8-1.
On court three Ole Miss’ Mai El Kamash and Arianne Hartono got the best of Frances Altick and Marie Casares in at close 8-7(6) victory.
It appeared as though No. 33 Ashleigh Antal and Astra Sharma had the match early as they were up 7-3. However, the Commodores allowed the Rebel tandem to take the next three games, narrowing the VU lead 7-6. But with the valuable doubles point on the line, Antal and Sharma pulled out the 8-6 win to clinch the point for the `Dores.
With the advantage the Commodores took to the courts in singles action to finish off their second SEC match. The `Dores were focused at the task at hand winning in straight sets on five of six courts. Ashleigh Antal brought in the first singles win on the afternoon, coming out victorious on court five over Stephens in a 6-1, 6-3 defeat.
No. 11 Sydney Campbell was the second Commodore to come off the courts as she was looking to even the score against Julia Jones. The Ole Miss senior defeated Campbell in three sets during the National Indoor Intercollege Championship, but Campbell refused to be beaten Sunday. This go around the sophomore powered through both sets only allowing the 15th ranked Rebel to win three games in her easy 6-2, 6-1 win.
With the `Dores up 3-0, VU needed just one additional win to secure the victory. No. 98 Astra Sharma continued her success in her new role in the second spot of the Commodore lineup. Sharma upset No. 43 Arianne Hartono 6-2, 6-2 as she displayed unwavering physicality and determination. Sharma now boasts a 9-1 spring record.
On court three, Courtney Colton solidified Vanderbilt’s fourth singles win in a row with a cool 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 109 Mai El Kamash. Last season Colton fell to El Kamash in three sets; 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. With the victory, the junior registered her 60th career singles win.
Although the `Dores had technically won the competition, SEC conference matches will be played out to their entirety on all singles courts.
Although she put up a great fight, junior No. 123 Frances Altick fell to Natalie Suk after winning her first set 6-4. The Rebel defeated Altick in the second, 6-3, forcing a ten-point tiebreaker to determine the winner. Altick came up just short of the victory 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(8).
No. 63 Marie Casares brought VU its final victory of the night coming out on top of Verboven; 6-4, 6-2. Casares proved very consistent, as she defeated the Rebel last season in the exact same style.
With the SEC win the `Dores look towards this weekend’s action as they travel to Lexington, Ky. to face the No. 25 Wildcats on Friday at 2 p.m.
Vanderbilt 6, Ole Miss 1
Doubles:
1. No. 19 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton (VU) def. Iris Verboven/Erin Stephens (OM); 8-1
2. No. 33 Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (VU) def. Julia Jones/Natalie Suk (OM); 8-6
3. Mai El Kamash/Arianne Hartono (OM) def. Frances Altick/Marie Casares; 8-7(6)
Order of Finish; (1, 3, 2*)
Singles:
1. No. 11 Sydney Campbell (VU) def. No. 14 Julia Jones (OM); 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 98 Astra Sharma (VU) def. No. 43 Arianne Hartono (OM); 6-2, 6-2
3. No. 103 Courtney Colton (VU) def. No 109 Mai El Kamash (OM); 6-2, 6-1
4. Natalie Suk (OM) def. No. 123 Frances Altick; 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(8)
5. Ashleigh Antal (VU) def. Erin Stephens (OM); 6-1, 6-3
6. No. 63 Marie Casares (VU) def. Iris Verboven (OM); 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish; (5, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
