COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dropping doubles to open the day, No. 9 Vanderbilt put together a singles comeback on the road Sunday against No. 36 Missouri to get back in the win column with a 4-2 victory.
Singles play saw Holly Staff set the tone for the Commodores (11-2, 3-2 SEC) with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Marta Oliveira at No. 4 to even the match at 1-1. Vandy’s veterans then took over and polished off a pair of straight-set wins with Emma Kurtz taking a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Valentina Vazquez and No. 20 Christina Rosca claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Bronte Murgett at the No. 1 spot.
Cruz wins her third set 6-0 to get us back in the win column with a road victory over No. 36 Missouri.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/9sKhpztMDh
— Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis (@VandyWTennis) March 7, 2021
Though Missouri (13-7, 1-4 SEC) pushed the envelope by getting the other three singles courts to decisive third sets, it made it a 3-2 match with a win at No. 3 before Marcella Cruz again closed out the Vanderbilt victory with a 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-0 win over Elys Ventura on No. 6.
Back in action one week from Sunday, Vanderbilt will next be back in action on March 14 when it hosts Kentucky. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT at Currey Tennis Center.
Results
Singles
1. #20 Christina Rosca (VU) def. Bronte Murgett (MIZ) 6-3, 6-2
2. Emma Kurtz (VU) def. Valentina Vazquez (MIZ) 6-2, 6-1
3. Ellie Wright (MIZ) def. Anna Ross (VU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Holly Staff (VU) def. Marta Oliveira (MIZ) 6-1, 6-0
5. Serena Nash (MIZ) vs. Anessa Lee (VU) 6-3, 4-6, 5-5, unfinished
6. Marcella Cruz (VU) def. Elys Ventura (MIZ) 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 6-0
Doubles
1. Bronte Murgett/Marta Oliveira (MIZ) def. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VU) 6-3
2. Emma Kurtz/Marcella Cruz (VU) def. Gabrielle Goldin/Valentina Vazquez (MIZ) 6-1 3. Serena Nash/Ellie Wright (MIZ) def. Christina Rosca/Amanda Meyer (VU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 10-2, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #9
Mizzou 13-6, 1-3 SEC; National ranking #36
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,1,3,6) T-3:13 A-42
