NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The second-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team picked up its first ranked victory of the season, as the squad defeated 16th-ranked Baylor, 6-1.
“Baylor is a really solid team,” said coach Geoff Macdonald “and they’re young, and they’re going to get better. Today, we played better at doubles than last weekend, and we’ve been really working on it. I’ve got a great group of players and I’m honored to work with them. I told the team that they got ahead in some matches and really pushed and kept their foot on the gas.”
The Commodores opened the competition garnering their first doubles point of the season, a feat Vandy has been working on all week in preparation for Friday’s matchup. VU nabbed its first victory of the day on court one as Astra Sharma and Fernanda Contreras defeated Theresa Van Zyl and Jessica Hinojosa, 6-2.
VU sealed the doubles point on court three, with Christina Rosca and Amanda Meyer making their dual match debut. The tandem limited the Bear’s Giorgia Testa and Camilla Abbate to two games in their 6-2 victory. No. 43 Emily Smith and Emma Kurtz were tied at 4-all on court two at the clinch.
In singles, the Dores used their momentum to race off and earn five first set victories over Baylor. In an exhibition, Lauren Gish earned a victory and valuable playing experience over Baylor’s Dominika Sujova at No. 7 singles.
No. 4 Fernanda Contreras generated VU its second point of the outing, as the junior only allowed BU’s Theresa Van Zyl two games in her 6-1, 6-1 victory. The Austin, Texas native is closing in on a milestone, as the Commodore sits just three wins away from 85th-career victory.
Playing focused tennis, No. 96 Summer Dvorak earned the Dores another straight-set victory. The junior out of Laguna Beach, Calif. allowed No. 110 Livia Kraus the first two games of the first set, then on a went on a run to take the first set on court five, 6-2. The Commodore earned VU its third team point by taking the second set to complete the victory, 6-2, 6-1.
On court one, Astra Sharma sealed the Commodore victory for the Aussie’s 97th-career win. Sharma downed Kris Sorokolet, 6-2, 6-3 for the clinch.
Astra seals the victory over Baylor, 6-2, 6-3! #FightDores
Teams playing remainder of matches out. pic.twitter.com/sQx5FUM13u
— Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) February 2, 2018
Following the clinch, VU earned two additional victories, and fell on court four. Emma Kurtz put up a great fight versus the Bear’s Abbate, however the point court on court four went to Baylor, 6-4, 6-2.
No. 19 Christina Rosca won her first three-set match of the year. The sophomore won the first set, 6-0, but then lost in her second set to Shakhraichuk, 6-4. Rosca extended her undefeated streak, coming through in the third and final set for the victory, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4.
Taking the court in her Commodore debut, Amanda Meyer earned her first win as a Commodore in ranked fashion. The freshman out of Delray Beach, Fla. downed No. 117 Jessica Hinojosa in a convincing straight set performance, 6-4, 6-0.
In a battle between No. 1 and No. 2, Vanderbilt will face top-ranked Stanford tomorrow afternoon at noon. Vanderbilt tumblers and donuts will be provided to the first 50 fans in attendance.
“Tomorrow will be a great opportunity,” Macdonald continued. “I hope a lot of people will come out and watch. Our schedule is set up to play some of the best teams in the country, and we’re going to go after Stanford with everything we have. It’s going to be a heck of a match, it is every year.”
