NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Friday afternoon, the No. 5 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team improved to a 3-0 start in league play, defeating No. 33 Mississippi State, 6-1.
“That was a closer match than 6-1,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “Mississippi Sate had superb players in certain positions. The player on court three (Rioux) didn’t miss many balls, and the match on court one was fantastic. I’m really pleased, today’s win was a great step for us. Sydney Campbell is playing so well, and deserved the honor of this week’s SEC Player of the Week. I give her a lot of credit because she’s taking on new roles in the team, as a leader, and is playing really well.”
Vandy clinched a tight doubles point with victories on courts one and two. No. 20 Astra Sharma and Emily Smith earned their second ranked victory, downing No. 13 Jasmine Lee and Lisa Marie Rioux, 6-1. On court two, Campbell and Emma Kurtz nabbed the doubles advantage for the black and gold with a 6-4 win over Jennifer Brown and Madison Harrison.
In singles, the Commodores continued success, taking five first sets over the Bulldogs. Campbell gave the ‘Dores the 2-0 advantage, taking her first set on court two over Harrison in just 12 minutes, 6-1, 6-0.
Emma Kurtz took no time to extend the VU lead to 3-0, powering past Sara Lizaritury, 6-2 in the first set and did not allow the Bulldog a single game in the final set. Freshman and No. 65 Christina Rosca secured the Commodore clinch at No. 4 singles, with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Ana Rentouli.
After a slow start, sophomore Fernanda Contreras quickly regrouped on court six against MSU’s Jennifer Brown. The Commodore came back to take the first set 6-4, and the victory, 6-2. Mississippi State’s lone point of the outing came from Rioux against Georgina Sellyn. The Bulldog pulled off a tight victory on court three, 6-4, 7-6.
Vanderbilt secured its final point on court six as No. 5 Sharma took a highly competitive three-set match on court one over No. 57 Jasmine Lee, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0(4).
Vanderbilt hosts Ole Miss Sunday at 1 pm. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive Panera Bread for brunch.
