NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The momentum changed when Vanderbilt women’s tennis came back to win their match against Ole Miss after dropping doubles, winning four out of six matches in singles play at the Ensworth Tennis Facility on Friday.
“We got a hard-fought win today in our first SEC home match,” said head coach Aleke Tsoubanos. “Ole Miss is a veteran team with a lot of experience and I thought we responded, after losing a close doubles point, very well in singles. The commitment and work was put in on every court. The four points put on the board by Ness, Holl, Bridge, and CB were very impressive.”
Vanderbilt fought back to even the score in singles when Anessa Lee defeated Crowley in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, grabbing the first point for the Dores. Holly Staff picked up another point on Court 5 when she overcame Rachel Krzyzak 6-1, 6-4, and Bridget Stammel followed suit, claiming a straight-set victory over Ludmila Kareisova, 6-4, 6-1. The Dores were up 3-1 when Valeria Ray fell to her Rebel opponent in the third set. The match was decided by Célia-Belle Mohr, who was victorious in the third set against Ava Hrastar on Court 1, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3. Amy Stevens was left on Court 6 and fell to her Ole Miss opponent, finalizing the 4-3 victory for Vandy.
Just prior, in doubles, No. 26 Mohr and Lee were victorious, overcoming Hrastar and Briana Crowley, ranked 79th, and picked up the lone win for Vandy, 6-4. Stammel and Ray were defeated by Ole Miss duo Kareisova and Anaelle Leclercq-Ficher, 4-6, on Court 2. The Rebels clinched the doubles point, securing the early advantage when Staff and Sonya Macavei fell to Lucie Devier and Kelsey Mize, 5-7 on Court 3.
“Though we aren’t competing at our home courts this season, it was wonderful to have fans come out to support us at Ensworth,” said Tsoubanos. “We are grateful for that and would love to have that kind of support again this Sunday as we take on Mississippi State.”
Singles
1. #9 Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Hrastar 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. #60 Stammel (Vanderbilt) def. Kareisova 6-4, 6-1
3. Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Crowley 6-2, 6-2
4. Leclercq (Ole Miss) def. Ray 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Rachel Krzyak 6-1, 6-4
6. Emma Kette (Ole Miss) def. Stevens 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Doubles
1. #26 Mohr/Lee (Vanderbilt) def. #79 Crowley/Hrastar 6-4
2. Kareisova/ Leclercq (Ole Miss) def. Stammel/Ray 4-6
3. Devier/Mize (Ole Miss) def. Staff/Macavei 7-5
Up Next: The Commodores travel to College Station next week as they take on No. 14 Texas A&M on Friday at 5 p.m.; Sunday, Vanderbilt meets LSU in Baton Rouge at 11 a.m.
