NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 10th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team will advance to the NCAA Tournament second round to face No. 19 Georgia Tech after quickly dispatching Murray State, 4-0, Friday at the Currey Tennis Center.
The win gives the Commodores (20-6) their 12th 20+ win season, and first since 2008.
The match with the Racers lasted just one hour, 50 minutes after the Commodores quickly won the doubles point in under 40 minutes.
Ashleigh Antal and Georgina Sellyn partnered up for the first time this season and won a quick 8-1 decision at No. 3 doubles. No. 20 Lauren Mira and Courtney Colton followed that up with an 8-1 win of their own at No. 1 doubles to five the Commodores an early 1-0 advantage.
Vanderbilt came out of the gates just as hard in singles and both Frances Altick and Colton picked up 6-0 first set winners. Marie Casares also cruised in the first set, winning 6-1.
Casares would go on to give the Commodores the 2-0 lead, winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. The win was Casares’ 32nd of the year, setting a Vanderbilt single season record for singles wins. The junior who already holds the single season record for combined wins improves to 32-6 on the year.
Altick went on to put Vandy up 3-0, picking up a 6-0, 6-1 win of her own at No. 2 singles. Altick, an All-SEC First Teamer, improves to 29-7 with the victory.
Colton would close it out for the `Dores winning love and love at No. 4 singles.
Vanderbilt will take on Georgia Tech on Saturday with a trip to the sweet 16 on the line. The Commodores and Yellow Jackets already went head-to-head once this year, with VU winning a tight 4-3 battle to earn a trip to the ITA National Indoor tournament.
Saturday’s second round match is set to follow the two men’s first round matches. The tentative start time is 4 p.m. at the Currey Tennis Center.
#10 Vanderbilt 4, Murray State 0
Singles competition
1. #64 Georgina Sellyn (VU) vs. Andrea Eskauriatza (MSU) 3-6, 4-2, unfinished
2. #48 Frances Altick (VU) def. Elenore Tchakarova (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. #103 Marie Casares (VU) def. Carla Suga (MSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. #82 Courtney Colton (VU) def. Megan Blue (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Lauren Mira (VU) vs. Verginie Tchakarova (MSU) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
6. Maggie Leavell (VU) vs. Erin Patton (MSU) 7-5, 0-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #20 Courtney Colton/Lauren Mira (VU) def. Elenore Tchakarova/Verginie Tchakarova (MSU) 8-1
2. Frances Altick/Marie Casares (VU) vs. Erin Patton/Andrea Eskauriatza (MSU) 6-1, unfinished
3. Ashleigh Antal/Georgina Sellyn (VU) def. Megan Blue/Carla Suga (MSU) 8-1
Match Notes:
Murray State 16-6
Vanderbilt 20-6; National ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,3,4)
NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament
First Round
