NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 9 Vanderbilt (11-3) women’s tennis team finished the non-conference season with a perfect 10-0 record as it defeated No. 41 Florida International (5-6) 5-2 on Friday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.
The Commodores won the doubles point for the ninth time in 14 matches. FIU won the first doubles match, as the 20th-ranked tandem of Liset Brito and Egle Petrauskaite defeated Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery 8-1 at No. 1 doubles. Vanderbilt came back to win the other two doubles matches to claim the point. Taka Bertrand and Keilly Ulery defeated Maria Spenceley and Maria Jose Vallasciani 8-3 at the third doubles position. Caroline Ferrell and Catherine Newman clinched the doubles point for the `Dores, defeating Priscilla Castillo and Maria Dolores Pazo 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.
In singles, Bertrand tied the Vanderbilt record for most career singles wins as she picked up her 114th win at Vanderbilt, defeating Pazo 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. The win ties Julie Ditty for the most singles wins in a Vanderbilt career.
No. 51 Courtney Ulery claimed the third point for the Black and Gold with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Marijana Cutuk on Court 4. Caroline Ferrell clinched the match for the `Dores with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Spenceley at the sixth singles position.
Florida International scored its first point of the match at No. 5 singles as Castillo defeated Keilly Ulery 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7). At No. 2 singles, Petrauskaite got past No. 37 Newman, winning in straight sets 7-5, 6-2.
No. 35 Taylor closed out the match, claiming a comeback victory over No. 88 Brito at No. 1 singles. After dropping the first set 6-4, Taylor was down in the second set 5-2. However, the Vanderbilt senior came back to win the next five games to claim the second set 7-5. Taylor won a 10-point tie-breaker in the third set 10-2 to claim the match.
Vanderbilt now leads the overall series against FIU 2-0.
The Commodores return to action on Friday, March 21, as they host SEC foe No. 39 Auburn at the Currey Tennis Center at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
Friday’s Results:
No. 9 Vanderbilt 5 def. No. 41 Florida International 2
Doubles:
1. No. 20 Liset Brito/Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) def. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) – 8-1
2. Caroline Ferrell/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Priscilla Castillo/Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) – 8-4
3. Taka Bertrand/Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Maria Spenceley/Maria Jose Vallasciani (FIU) – 8-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles:
1. No. 35 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. No. 88 Liset Brito (FIU) – 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (2)
2. Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) def. No. 37 Catherine Newman (VU) – 7-5, 6-2
3. Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) – 6-1, 6-0
4. No. 51 Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Marijana Cutuk (FIU) – 6-4, 6-1
5. Priscilla Castillo (FIU) def. Keilly Ulery (VU) – 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
6. Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Maria Spenceley (FIU) – 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 6, 5, 2, 1
Updated Team Records: Vanderbilt (11-3, 1-3 SEC); Florida International (5-6, 0-0 Sun Belt)
