NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Though dropping the doubles point to start the day, No. 10 Vanderbilt took complete control in singles to earn a 4-1 victory over Alabama on Sunday afternoon at Currey Tennis Center.
Holly Staff garnered Vanderbilt’s (10-1, 2-1 SEC) first point of the day with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 5. She won the first five games of the match and never looked back in dispatching Anne Marie Hiser. Shortly after, No. 20 Christina Rosca remained perfect this spring in singles play with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Sasha Gorchanyuk to give the Commodores a 2-1 lead.
Anna Ross extended the Vandy lead by taking a come-from-behind 6-1, 7-6 (5) win at No. 3 from Anna Parkhomenko. She went down 2-0 in the second set, but battled back and won a tight tiebreaker to put the Commodores one point away from victory.
Closing out the win, Emma Kurtz polished off a 6-3, 7-5 win with a late break of Moka Ito to finish off the 4-1 win.
Doubles play saw Vandy’s top duo of Staff and Ross take a 6-3 win at No. 1, but the Dores fell at Nos. 2 and 3 with Alabama (9-5, 0-4 SEC) using a comeback on No. 3 to win 7-6 (4).
Vanderbilt will hit the road in SEC play for the first time next weekend when it visits Arkansas and Missouri. First serve on Friday against the Razorbacks is set for 3 p.m. with a noon first ball against Missouri in Columbia.
Singles
1. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) def. Moka Ito (UA) 6-3, 7-5
2. #20 Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. Sasha Gorchanyuk (UA) 6-1, 6-1
3. Anna Ross (VANDY) def. Anna Parkhomenko (UA) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Anessa Lee (VANDY) vs. Alba Cortina Pou (UA) 6-1, 4-6, 3-3, unfinished
5. Holly Staff (VANDY) def. Anne Marie Hiser (UA) 6-2, 6-3
6. Marcella Cruz (VANDY) vs. Sydney Riley (UA) 4-3, unfinished
Doubles
1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY) def. Moka Ito/Sasha Gorchanyuk (UA) 6-3
2. Anne Marie Hiser/Sydney Riley (UA) def. Marcella Cruz/Emma Kurtz (VANDY) 6-1
3. Alba Cortina Pou/Anna Parkhomenko (UA) def. Christina Rosca/Anessa Lee (VANDY) 7-6 (7-4)
Match Notes:
Alabama 9-5, 0-4 SEC
Vanderbilt 10-1, 2-1 SEC; National ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,2,3,1)
Match played indoors
T-3:05
