May 19, 2015

THE COMMODORES ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

| Match Point & Celebration | Highlights | Quotes

Press Conference | Storify | VU’s All-Time Championships | Celebration Information

Chancellor’s Message | Mayor Dean’s Proclamation

WACO, Texas – For the second time in less than a year and only the third time in school history, Vanderbilt has won a national championship. This time it was the women’s tennis team raising the hardware after defeating UCLA, 4-2, Tuesday in the NCAA Championship.

The Commodores (25-6) capped their historic run by winning their first national championship, joining Vanderbilt’s baseball and women’s bowling programs as the select three to have won such crowns. The bowling team won the national title in 2007, while baseball won it all last June.

It was Vanderbilt’s third all-time trip to the Final Four and first in the title match since 2001. By defeating UCLA (23-5), Vanderbilt concluded its postseason run by knocking off fifth-seeded Florida for the third time this year (was 2-45 all-time against UF entering the year), top-seeded USC and UCLA, the defending national champions.

Geoff Macdonald, who just completed his 21st season at Vanderbilt has guided the Commodores to each of the school’s postseason appearances, and has done so all 21 years as head coach. Macdonald has 422 career wins in 21 years. In the previous 17 years of the program’s existence, the Commodores won 166 matches.

“The seniors on that team have been to four straight final fours,” Macdonald said of the Bruins. “We were in new water for us. I have to say, hats off to my team for handling an incredibly large moment, with class, guts, and great spirit. It’s a dream come true. It’s such an elusive, difficult thing to accomplish.”

Narrowing down the competition to just two teams was no easy feat with the Commodores having to face Clemson, No. 5 Florida for the third time this year, No. 1 USC and finally the defending champions in UCLA.

Battle hardened and with their eyes on the prize the ‘Dores came out on fire in doubles action. No. 20 Sydney Campbell and Courtney Colton were brick walls at the net, holding a commanding position and forcing their opponents to have to play near perfect tennis. After a slew of aces from Colton and Campbell, the tandem put together an 8-3 victory.

Following the win on court one, No. 18 Astra Sharma and Ashleigh Antal fell to the Burins’ No. 3 due of Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips, 8-5. With the loss, the duo dropped their 19-match win streak, but the ‘Dores were after a different prize which was redeemed later.

Playing complete tennis the entire tournament, Marie Casares and Frances Altick defeated UCLA’s Van Nguyen and Magill to solidify the one-point advantage with a huge 8-5 victory on court three.

With the point advantage on their side, the Commodores were prepared to begin singles action against one of the hardest lineups in college tennis. VU then earned its additional points from Ashleigh Antal, Courtney Colton and Astra Sharma to reach the necessary four points. It was Sharma who clinched the winning point at the No. 2 position for the third match in a row.

Ashleigh Antal powered through her first set against the Bruin’s Kaitlin Ray. The Wilmington, N.C., native only allowed Ray one game in the opening set, but the Bruin fought back in the second to force Antal to a tiebreaker. With a loss in doubles and her last singles match with the Black and Gold potentially going to a third set, Antal brought home the second point with 6-1, 7-6(6) win.

On court one, No. 1 Robin Anderson had different plans as she saw her fellow Bruins’ dropping sets on courts four, five, and six. No. 8 Campbell competed hard for her squad, but Anderson took the win 6-4, 6-1 to put UCLA’s first point on the board.

For the second day in a row Colton flipped the switch mentally and physically on court four, as the junior fought back from a 4-1 deficit to come out on top of a tiebreaker over No. 33 Harrison 7-6(5). The Davie, Fla., native resurrected once again as she was down 3-1 to defeat Harrison 7-6(5), 6-4.

Vanderbilt led 2-0, 2-1 and then 3-1 before the Bruins cut it to 3-2 on Court 3. Frances Altick lost in a second-set tiebreaker after rallying from a 5-2 deficit to even the set at 6. However, in the tiebreaker with the score tied at 5-all, but came up just short.

Casares dropped her first set to McPhillips, but fought back to take the second set 7-6(4).

Attention then turned to Sharma on Court 2. After dropping the first set, 6-3, she rallied back to win a mighty second set 6-2. Using her big serve and ability to place pin-point accurate returns Sharma carried home the ‘Dores victory defeating No. 21 Chanelle Van Nguyen 6-4 in the third. For her heroics on Court 2, Sharma was named the 2015 NCAA Tournament MVP.

2015 was an unforgettable season for the Commodores, who brought not one trophy back to Currey, but two after also claiming the SEC Tournament title for the first time in school history.

RESULTS:

#4 VANDERBILT (25-6) def. #7 UCLA (23-5) 4-2 – Hurd Tennis Center Grandstand Courts – 5 p.m.

Head Coaches: Geoff Macdonald (VANDERBILT) and Stella Sampras Webster (UCLA)

Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2, 3)

#20 Courtney Colton/Sydney Campbell (VANDERBILT) def. #9 Robin Anderson/Jennifer Brady (UCLA); 8-3
#3 Catherine Harrison/Kyle McPhillips (UCLA) def. #18 Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (VANDERBILT); 8-5
Marie Casares/Frances Altick (VANDERBILT) def. Chanelle Van Nguyen/Maia Magill (UCLA); 8-5

Singles (Order of finish: 6, 1, 4, 3, 2)

#1 Robin Anderson (UCLA) def. #8 Sydney Campbell (VANDERBILT); 6-4, 6-1
#42 Astra Sharma (VANDERBILT) def. #21 Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA); 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
#47 Jennifer Brady (UCLA) def. #96 Frances Altick (VANDERBILT); 6-4, 7-6 (5)
#61 Courtney Colton (VANDERBILT) def. #33 Catherine Harrison (UCLA); 7-6 (5), 6-4
#120 Marie Casares (VANDERBILT) vs. #35 Kyle McPhillips (UCLA); 6-3, 6-7 (4), 3-3, UF
Ashleigh Antal (VANDERBILT) def. Kaitlin Ray (UCLA); 6-1, 7-6 (6)