May 26, 2017
ATHENS, Ga. – Nashville-area product and three-time All-American Sydney Campbell added another success to her already remarkable Vanderbilt career on Friday, becoming just the second individual Commodore to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Franklin, Tenn. native joins Audra Falk (2004) as the only two Commodores to represent the black and gold on the Elite Eight stage. The win extends Campbell’s win streak to 14-stright matches won.
Friday morning the recent Vanderbilt graduate defeated the fifth-ranked player in the nation and the tournament’s fourth-overall seed in UCLA’s Ena Shibahara, 6-2. Not only did the victory solidify Campbell’s spot in the Elite Eight, but it tied the Commodore’s highest-career ranked win, which first came over Florida’s No. 5 Brooke Austin in straight sets in 2015.
“Shibahara is a really aggressive player, which I knew coming into today’s match,” Campbell reflected. “I had to work really hard to dictate points first and get on top in the first two of three balls of the point… I think that really helped me because she’s not used to opponents doing that and gave me an advantage.”
Utilizing her angles and the entire court, Campbell’s opponent’s unforced errors cost her a 6-2 opening set deficit. With the Commodore leading 4-2 in the second set, the UCLA Bruin rallied to tie the set, 4-all.
With the end of her collegiate career on the line, Campbell pulled away late in the match to take it in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
“I think about how each match could be my last before I step out on court,” said Campbell. “I want to really enjoy it and play my best. If it is my last match I want to walk away knowing that I played well. During the match I try to think about it… I try to just play tennis and enjoy the moment. This tournament is another opportunity to talk another step.”
On Saturday, Campbell will face the winner of the match between two familiar foes in Baylor’s fifth-seeded Blair Shankle and her NCAA Team Elite Eight opponent, Pepperdine’s Ashley Lahey.
“As Coach [Geoff] Macdonald likes to say, tomorrow’s match will just be another day in Athens, Ga.”, Campbell continued. “I just want to keep playing tennis and go out there, have some fun and do the best I can.”
