ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Vanderbilt women’s tennis team picked up three singles wins and one doubles match in the opening day of the Michigan Invitational. Junior Hannah Blatt, sophomore Keilly Ulery and freshman Heather Steinbauer all posted victories over their respected Michigan opponents at the Varsity Tennis Center on Michigan’s campus.
In singles action, Blatt got the `Dores on the board with 7-6(6), 6-1 win over Michigan’s Lindsey Howard. The win over Howard gives Blatt her fifth consecutive win, dating back to Oct. 19.
Keilly Ulery followed suit as she picked up her 10th win of the 2008-09 season by sweeping Michigan’s Tania Mahtani in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Steinbauer pushed her combined season record to 8-2 with a three set (3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)) win over Whitney Taney.
In doubles action the freshmen duo of Jackie Wu and Steinbauer nearly upset the nation’s 20th-ranked pair of Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang (Duke) before falling in a hard fought 9-7 match.
Live scoring and video of the final two days of the Michigan Invite will be available courtesy of MGoBlue.com.
Michigan Invitational Day One Results
Singles
Chisako Sugiyama (Michigan) d. No. 21 Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt), 7-5, 7-6(2)
Rika Tatsuno (Michigan) d. No. 80 Chelsea Preeg (Vanderbilt), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Hannah Blatt (Vanderbilt) d. Lindsey Howard (Michigan), 7-6(6), 6-1
No. 84 Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt) d. Tania Mahtani (Michigan), 6-3, 6-2
Heather Steinbauer (Vanderbilt) d. Whitney Taney (Michigan), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
Doubles
No. 20 Amanda Granson/Melissa Mang (Duke) d. Heather Steinbauer/Jackie Wu (Vanderbilt), 9-7
Ellah Nze/Jessi Robinson (Duke) d. Hannah Blatt/Keilly Ulery (Vanderbilt), 8-5
Catherine Newman/Chelsea Preeg (Vanderbilt) d. Katie Lee/Samantha Orlin (Tennessee), 8-1
Sunday Schedule, Jan. 18
10 a.m. Singles — Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
1 p.m. Doubles — Duke vs. Tennessee, Michigan vs. Vanderbilt
Singles to follow — Duke vs. Michigan
