NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 16 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team won its fourth straight match to start the season as it swept No. 23 Michigan (0-1) on Friday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.
“I thought we played a really good match today,” Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “The match was a lot closer than the score would indicate. The singles matches at No. 2 and No. 4 were both really close. Other than those matches, I thought we were really solid. It was a great win for us.”
Vanderbilt quickly earned the doubles point. Playing at No. 3, the tandem of Caroline Ferrell and Keilly Ulery bounced back from a loss last Sunday against Colorado to down Denise Muresan and Lindsey Howard 8-2 to give the `Dores their first win in doubles on the day.
“They (Ferrell and Keilly Ulery) regrouped well,” Macdonald said. “I think they’re going to be a very good team. I thought they both played very well.”
Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery clinched the doubles point for the Black and Gold with an 8-1 victory over Rika Tatsuno and Whitney Taney.
The best match in doubles come on center court as the team of Taka Bertrand and Catherine Newman battled Michigan’s Chisako Sugiyama and Tania Mahtani. After falling behind 6-3, Bertrand and Newman battled back to win the match 8-7 (7-5) to secure the doubles sweep for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt picked up its second point of the match at No. 5 singles as Keilly Ulery moved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tatsuno. Keilly’s older sister Courtney, ranked 13th in singles, quickly clinched point number three for the `Dores with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Taney.
No. 34 Taylor clinched the match for the Commodores at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mahtani. In four singles matches this season, Taylor has yet to lose a set and has only lost 10 games.
Ferrell earned point number five for Vanderbilt. Ferrell won the first set 6-2 and was leading in the second 2-1 when Howard was forced to withdraw due to an injury.
At No. 2 singles, No. 24 Newman lost the opening set 7-5. The sophomore battled back to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 to claim the match over Sugiyama. Bertrand secured the match sweep for the `Dores with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles.
Vanderbilt returns to action on Saturday as it welcomes No. 9 Notre Dame to the Currey Tennis Center. Opening serve is set for Noon (CST). Complete results and a recap will be available on vucommodores.com.
No. 16 Vanderbilt 7, No. 23 Michigan 0
Currey Tennis Center – Nashville, Tenn.
Doubles play:
1. Taka Bertrand/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Chisako Sugiyama/Tania Mahtani (UM) – 8-7 (7-5)
2. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Rika Tatsuno/Whitney Taney (UM) – 8-1
3. Caroline Ferrell/Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Denise Muresan/Lindsey Howard (UM) – 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles Play:
1. No. 34 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Tania Mahtani (UM) – 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 24 Catherine Newman (VU) def. Chisako Sugiyama (UM) – 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
3. No. 13 Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Whitney Taney (UM) – 6-3, 7-5
4. Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Denise Muresan (UM) – 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
5. Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Rika Tatsuno (UM) – 6-4, 6-3
6. Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Lindsey Howard (UM) – 6-2, 2-1 (ret.)
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 1, 6, 2, 4
Updated Team Records: Vanderbilt 4-0; Michigan 0-1
