KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Make more room in the trophy case: Vanderbilt women’s tennis team is back-to-back Southeastern Conference Tournament Champions!
In a battle between the conference’s No. 1 and No. 2 tournament seeds, Vanderbilt proved victorious in dominant fashion, securing a 4-0 sweep over No. 9-ranked Florida for the Commodores’ third conference tournament championship in program history. The victory was the Dores’ second over Florida in eight days following the squad’s 4-3 win over the Gators on April 14, which clinched Vanderbilt’s SEC regular-season title.
Vanderbilt adds its 2018 SEC tournament title to its tournament championship win over Georgia in 2015 and over Florida last season
Sunday’s match began with dominant doubles play, as the Commodores earned 6-1 victories on courts one and three.
Christina Rosca and Amanda Meyer extended their winning streak to nine matches when it mattered most, defeating Peggy Porter and Katie Kubicz 6-1 on court three. Rosca/Meyer have allowed their opponents no more than three games in each of their past nine wins.
Ranked 22nd in the country, the duo of Astra Sharma and Fernanda Contreras added another top-25 victory to its growing list of accomplishments, defeating 13th-ranked Anna Danilina and Victoria Emma 6-1 for the Commodores’ 18th doubles victory of the season.
With the one-point advantage firmly in the Commodores pocket, the team moved onto singles play where they picked up three of the five completed opening sets. Interestingly enough, all three of Vanderbilt’s points came in straight sets with opponents earning only three games.
Meyer, a freshman from Delray Beach, Fla., was first off the court for the black and gold, finishing an undefeated run in SEC Tournament play with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Victoria Emma. With the win, Meyer earned Vanderbilt its second point.
Competing on court six, Dvorak also limited her opponent, Florida’s Kubicz, to three games. The junior capped her first SEC Tournament with a near flawless 6-1, 6-1 victory. With the win, Dvorak heads into NCAAs on a five-match winning streak on courts five and six and six and spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team.
No. 7 Contreras came through on court two to ensure Vanderbilt’s third SEC Tournament trophy. The junior from Austin, Texas breezed through her opening set, only allowing No. 47 Josie Kuhlman two games.
Kuhlman leveled the second set to 1-all, but that would be the Gator’s first and last game of the match as Contreras clinched the Vanderbilt victory, 6-2, 6-1. Following the straight-set win, Contreras sits just three wins shy of tying Vanderbilt’s single-season win record (39) and earning 100th Commodore victory. Contreras was voted to the SEC All-Tournament Team and as the Tournament’s MVP.
With university finals ahead, Vanderbilt tennis will take a break from practice for its student-athletes to focus on studies. Then it’s full steam ahead to NCAAs, where the team awaits its fate. The NCAA selection show is scheduled to air on May 1 at 5 p.m. CT.
YOUR 2018 @SEC CHAMPIONS! #FIGHTDORES #SECWT18 pic.twitter.com/5uWimWbAjO
— Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) April 22, 2018
#2 Vanderbilt 4, #9 Florida 0
1. #8 Astra Sharma (VANDY) vs. #14 Anna Danilina (UF) 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
2. #7 Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) def. #47 Josie Kuhlman (UF) 6-2, 6-1
3. #44 Christina Rosca (VANDY) vs. #90 McCartney Kessler (UF) 2-6, 4-4, unfinished 4. Amanda Meyer (VANDY) def. Victoria Emma (UF) 6-1, 6-2
5. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) vs. Peggy Porter (UF) 5-6, unfinished
6. Summer Dvorak (VANDY) def. Katie Kubicz (UF) 6-2, 6-1
1. #22 Fernanda Contreras/Astra Sharma (VANDY) def. #13 Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma (UF) 6-1 2. #58 Emily Smith/Emma Kurtz (VANDY) vs. Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler (UF) 1-5, unfinished 3. Christina Rosca/Amanda Meyer (VANDY) def. Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz (UF) 6-1
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,6,2)
