NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The third-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team dominated in-state rival Tennessee Friday afternoon, picking up a 4-0 sweep over the 37th-ranked Volunteers.
With the victory, the Commodores improve to 13-3 on the season and 6-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Vandy has defeated Tennessee in seven of its last eight matches, including the last five in a row. The Commodores have only given up two points in those five contests.
“The match was closer than the score appears,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “Tennessee, in my mind, could be a top-25 team. It was a spirited match, and this has always been a really good and healthy rivalry.
“A lot of years our two coaching staffs would just look at each other and say it’s going to be a 4-3 match one way or the other. We’ve had a lot of epic matches throughout the years. I know [Tennessee head coach] Alison [Ojeda] will bring Tennessee back up to the top, like I said to me they’re a top-25 team.”
Friday’s match began with the Commodores clinching the doubles point for the ninth time this season (9-of-16). VU’s first win of the day came at No. 3 doubles as Amanda Meyer and Christina Rosca flew through their match, picking up a perfect 6-0 win over Chelsea Sawyer and Elizabeth Profit.
Following a 6-3 loss on court two, Vandy rebounded to secure the point advantage on court one as No. 21 Astra Sharma and Fernanda Contreras defeated Ariadna Riley and Kaitlin Staines 6-4.
The Commodores continued powerful tennis in singles action, picking up consecutive wins on courts six and two then one.
Smith was first off the court in singles play and remains undefeated in SEC singles action (3-0). The junior from Birmingham, England earned a straight-set win against Johanna Silva 6-1, 6-3.
No. 5 Contreras edged out her opponent Riley 6-4 in the first set, and then rolled through the second, 6-0, to earn VU the 3-0 lead.
No. 14 Sharma clinched the sweep for the black and gold, powering back into her first set by taking an opening set tiebreaker 7-6(3). She then delivered Sadie Hammond the final punch for the Vandy victory, 7-6(3), 6-2.
The Commodores remain at home this Sunday, taking on No. 9 Georgia at 1 p.m. Visors will be given out to the first 100 fans in attendance.
Final Results:
#3 Vanderbilt 4, #37 Tennessee 0
- #14 Astra Sharma (VANDY) def. Sadie Hammond (UT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
- #5 Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) def. Elizabeth Profit (UT) 6-4, 6-0
- #39 Christina Rosca (VANDY) vs. Ariadna Riley (UT) 3-6, 6-3, 2-0, unfinished
- #97 Amanda Meyer (VANDY) vs. Gabby Schuck (UT) 7-5, 4-4, unfinished
- Summer Dvorak (VANDY) vs. Kaitlin Staines (UT) 6-7 (2-7), 5-4, unfinished
- Emily Smith (VANDY) def. Johanna Silva (UT) 6-1, 6-3
- #21 Astra Sharma/Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) def. Ariadna Riley/Kaitlin Staines (UT) 6-4
- Sadie Hammond/Gabby Schuck (UT) def. Emma Kurtz/Emily Smith (VANDY) 6-3
- Amanda Meyer/Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. Chelsea Sawyer/Elizabeth Profit (UT) 6-0
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,1)
