NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was another day of smooth sailing for the No. 4 Vanderbilt Commodores as the squad defeated third-seeded Oklahoma 4-0 to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16. This is the second year in a row that the `Dores will compete in the Sweet 16, who fell to Florida last season in Athens, Ga. Competition in Waco, Texas begins May 14th, with the ‘Dores playing the No. 21 Clemson Tigers.
The first Vanderbilt victory of the afternoon came on court one as face hands and solid returns garnered No. 18 Ashleigh Antal and Astra Sharma their 16th consecutive victory with an 8-2 victory on court two.
While Antal and Sharma were dominating two courts over, it was a battle on three. While it was a hard fought battle, Vanderbilt lost its sole match of the day against the Sooners’ Christina Brigante/Abbi Melrose; 8-5.
With the doubles point tied it was down to court one as the `Dores were cruising 5-2 with the Sooners slowly began to chip away at No. 20 Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell’s lead. The match on one drew closer than anticipated, but VU pulled out the 8-5 win, cementing the one-point advantage heading into singles play.
Using the same lineup that earned VU its first ever-SEC title, the Commodores were prepared to leave the Currey Tennis center with an undefeated and a chance to compete in Waco.
Redshirt freshman Sharma was in control on court two, delivering powerful served which her opponent, Simran Sethi, found unreturnable. Establishing her eighth-straight win 6-0, 6-2, the Aussie guided Vanderbilt to a 2-0 lead. Sharma heads to Waco winning 13 of her last 14 matches, a beautiful achievement as the Perth native suffered from an injury all last season.
The Commodores continued to excel in the sweltering sun as junior No. 61 Colton only allowed Brigante three games in her 6-2, 6-1 victory on court four.
A touching ending to the weekend as senior Antal clinched the Commodore victory in her last match at the Currey Tennis Center. The Wilmington, N.C. native defeated OU’s Emma Devine 6-2, 6-2. At the conclusion of Saturday’s match Antal and fellow senior Marie Casares gave each other a hug, thinking back to how far the duo as come in their four years playing for the black and gold.
Final Results:
#4 Vanderbilt 4, #42 Oklahoma 0
Singles competition
- #8 Sydney Campbell (VANDY) vs. Lily Miyazaki (OUW) 6-2, 3-4, unfinished
- #42 Astra Sharma (VANDY) def. Simran Sethi (OUW) 6-0, 6-2
- #96 Frances Altick (VANDY) vs. Abbi Melrose (OUW) 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
- #61 Courtney Colton (VANDY) def. Christina Brigante (OUW) 6-2, 6-1
- #120 Marie Casares (VANDY) vs. Malene Stripp (OUW) 6-4, 3-1, unfinished
- Ashleigh Antal (VANDY) def. Emma Devine (OUW) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
- #20 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton (VANDY) def. Lily Miyazaki/Simran Sethi (OUW) 8-5
- #18 Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (VANDY) def. Emma Devine/Malene Stripp (OUW) 8-2
- Christina Brigante/Abbi Melrose (OUW) def. Frances Altick/Marie Casares (VANDY) 8-5
Match Notes:
Oklahoma 15-10; National ranking #42
Vanderbilt 21-6; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,4,6)
Second Round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament
