LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 16 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team advanced to Sunday’s ITA Kick-off championship match with a 4-0 win over No. 18 Texas Tech, Saturday. The Commodores will play the winner of No. 25 Nebraska and No. 19 Georgia Tech.
“I’m really pleased with how we played,” said Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald. “We played on a really fast indoor court, which forced us to adapt, and we did which makes me happy. All day we competed and our effort level was where I wanted it to be.”
Vandy won the doubles point quickly with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. No. 28 Sydney Campbell and Ashleigh Antal upset No. 25 Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo, 6-2, before Lauren Mira and Georgina Sellyn clinched the point, with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles.
Frances Altick played one of the most impressive singles matches of they day in Coach Macdonald’s eyes.
“Frances played a great match, beating a ranked player,” said Macdonald. “She won convincingly 6-1, 6-0.”
Altick defeated No. 92 Lynn Kiro in straight sets for the first singles win for the `Dores. Courtney Colton won at No. 2 singles before Antal clinched the match winning 10-5 in the third set tiebreak.
Though Vanderbilt was able to take advantage of the experimental rules, Macdonald said he doesn’t like the change.
“I’m not a fan of these rules,” said Macdonald. “Tennis is an incredible sport. It’ a long sport, that’s just what it is. I think these new rules are designed to make the game faster, but it takes away from what is beautiful about this sport.”
Singles competition
1. #58 Kenna Kilgo (TTU) vs. #78 Sydney Campbell (VU) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
2. Courtney Colton (VU) def. Rashmi Teltumbde (TTU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Nikki Sanders (TTU) vs. #48 Georgina Sellyn (VU) 6-1, 3-6, unfinished
4. Frances Altick (VU) def. #92 Lynn Kiro (TTU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Samantha Adams (TTU) vs. Marie Casares (VU) 3-6, 4-4, unfinished
6. #102 Ashleigh Antal (VU) def. Sarah Toti (TTU) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
Doubles competition
1. #28 Ashleigh Antal/Sydney Campbell (VU) def. #25 Samantha Adams/Kenna Kilgo (TTU) 6-2
2. Nikki Sanders/Rashmi Teltumbde (TTU) vs. Courtney Colton/Marie Casares (VU) 3-4, unfinished
3. Lauren Mira/Georgina Sellyn (VU) def. Sarah Toti/Lynn Kiro (TTU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 1-0; National ranking #16
Texas Tech 2-1; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,2,6)
