NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 10th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team opened Southeastern Conference play with a dominating win over Mississippi State Friday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center.
For the eighth time this season, the Commodores got on the board first by winning the doubles point. Vanderbilt earned 8-3 wins on courts two and three to clinch the doubles point. Rachael Dillon and Alex Leatu completed the sweep with an 8-5 win in the No. 1 match.
In singles play, Dillon wasted no time picking up a 6-0, 6-2 win over MSU’s Vivian Pietraroia on court five. Shortly after, Jackie Wu increased Vanderbilt’s lead with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the No. 2 match. After falling behind 3-1 in the first set on court six, Nelly Radeva won five consecutive games to take the first set, 6-1. She clinched the match for the Commodores with a 6-1 win in the second set.
On court three, Chelsea Preeg picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win over Danielle Terpko. Lauren Mira was leading 6-3, 3-2, when Olesya Tsigvintseva retired, giving Vanderbilt a 6-0 lead. Alex Leatu completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Alexandra Perper in the No. 1 match.
“I thought we had some really tough conditions today with a lot of wind,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “But we played smart, disciplined and we hustled well. It was a really good all-around effort by the `Dores, I’m proud of how they played.”
The Commodores host Ole Miss on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the opening weekend of conference play. Live scoring of the match, scheduled for noon, will be available here.
