NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 15 Vanderbilt women’s tennis kicked off its new season with an impressive 7-0 win over the visiting Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Sunday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.
“After a long break it was great to be back out on the match court,” said head coach Aleke Tsoubanos. “The team has worked hard through the winter to prepare for the season and they were excited to finally play.
“It was an especially memorable day to see Christina Rosca earn her 100th career singles victory and join a truly elite group of Commodores. I am so proud of all she has accomplished in her career at Vanderbilt. She is a champion to the core and this milestone is a testament to the countless hours of dedication and hard work she has put in since she first stepped foot on campus. It’s been an incredible ride and I can’t wait to have this last season with her.”
Vanderbilt soundly took all three doubles matches, taking the early point from Western Kentucky. The Commodores’ top pair—Emma Kurtz and Anna Ross—won 6-2, while second and third doubles pairs of Anessa Lee and Christina Rosca, and Marcella Cruz and Holly Staff, respectively, won with 6-1 scorelines.
In singles play, Lee claimed a quick 6-1, 6-1 win to clinch the first point for the Dores. Dasha Kourkina followed with her own 6-1, 6-1 scoreline. Ross then won a 6-3, 6-1 decision and Staff won 6-2, 6-3.
Most notably, Rosca—ranked No. 20 in the country—won her 100th career match in a black and gold uniform with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory.
The Commodores will resume action next weekend with a trip to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, then return to West End to host Memphis Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to start at noon.
Doubles:
- Emma Kurtz/Anna Ross (Vandy) def. Lisa Friess/Cora-Lynn Von Dungern (WKU) 6-2
- Anessa Lee/Christina Rosca (Vandy) def. Tristen Bryant-Otake/Lauren Joch (WKU) 6-1
- Marcella Cruz/Holly Staff (Vandy) def. Laura Bernardos/Samantha Martinez (WKU) 6-1
Singles:
- Anna Ross (Vandy) def. Cora-Lyn Von Dungern (WKU) 6-3, 6-1
- Holly Staff (Vandy) def. Laura Bernardos (WKU) 6-2, 6-3
- Anessa Lee (Vandy) def. Samantha Martinez (WKU) 6-1, 6-1
- Christina Rosca (Vandy) def. Tristen Bryant-Otake (WKU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
- Dasha Kourkina (Vandy) def. Lisa Friess (WKU) 6-0, 6-1
- Marcella Cruz (Vandy) def. Alexis Cramer (WKU) 6-0, 6-2
Order of finish
Doubles: 2, 3, 1
Singles: 3, 5, 1, 2, 4, 6
