AUBURN, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team enjoyed its most successful day at the Fall SEC Coaches Classic, finishing the day with a 12-2 record and advancing three players into the final of their singles draw.
In singles flight A, sophomore Catherine Newman advanced to the finals by winning a pair of matches. Newman defeated Laura van de Stroet of Ole Miss 6-2, 6-0 in her first match and then defeated Florida’s Megan Alexander 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 to advance to the finals. Amanda Taylor won her first match of the day in flight A, beating Kelley Hyndman of Georgia 6-2, 6-2, before losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Girab Schofield of South Carolina.
In singles flight B, a pair of Commodores will battle for the title. In the quarterfinals, Courtney Ulery continued her perfect fall season, defeating Christine Johnson of Kentucky in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. Ulery improved to 12-0 in the fall with a hard-fought, three-set victory over Monica Dancevic of Georgia 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Senior Taka Bertrand joined Ulery in the finals by picking up a pair of victories. In the quarters, Bertrand defeated Staten Spencer of LSU 6-0, 6-4. Bertrand advanced to the finals after a victory over Naoko Ueshima of Georgia 7-5, 6-4.
Caroline Ferrell picked up a victory in the consolation draw of singles flight C, defeating Merritt Emery of Alabama 6-2, 6-7 (5), 10-7. Freshman Katie Kilborn picked up a pair of wins in singles flight D as she downed Alli Nolen of Alabama 6-1, 6-0, and defeated Elise Wettermark of Arkansas 6-1, 6-1.
In doubles play, Vanderbilt picked up two victories. Bertrand and Newman downed Dancevic and Hyndman from Georgia 8-6. Liberty Sveke and Ferrell also picked up a victory over Jil Hastenrath and Mary Claire Slade of Auburn 8-3. The doubles team of Taylor and Courtney Ulery were defeated by Carolina Escamilla and Johnson 8-3.
Play at the SEC Fall Coaches Classic concludes tomorrow with another round of singles and doubles play.
Day Three Results:
Singles Play:
Catherine Newman (VU) def. Laura van de Stroet (Ole Miss) – 6-2, 6-0
Newman (VU) def. Megan Alexander (UF) – 6-2, 0-6, 6-2
Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Kelley Hyndman (UGA) – 6-2, 6-2
Girab Schofield (USC) def. Taylor (VU) – 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Christine Johnson (UK) – 6-2, 6-2
C. Ulery (VU) def. Monica Dancevic (UGA) – 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) – 6-0, 6-4
Bertrand (VU) def. Naoko Ueshima (UGA) – 7-5, 6-4
Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Merritt Emery (Alabama) – 6-2, 6-7 (5), 10-7
Katie Kilborn (VU) def. Alli Nolen (Arkansas) – 6-1, 6-0
Kilborn (VU) def. Elise Wettermark (Arkansas) – 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Play:
Bertrand/Newman (VU) def. Dancevic/Hyndman (UGA) – 8-6
Liberty Sveke/Ferrell (VU) def. Jil Hastenrath/Mary Claire Slade (AU) – 8-3
Carolina Escamilla/Johnson (UK) def. Taylor/C. Ulery (VU) – 8-3
