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VU Women’s Tennis Travels to Ann Arbor and South Bend 1/20/2005 The No. 6 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team heads north this weekend to take on two national powerhouses in No. 20 Michigan and No. 21 Notre Dame. Facing national powers early in the season is nothing new for Geoff Macdonald’s Commodores (2-0, 0-0 SEC). Last season, the Dores faced three nationally ranked squads in the month of January alone, going undefeated against the likes of Duke, Virginia and Baylor. The 2005 collection of Commodores has kept that perfect January streak alive, taking down the No. 55 Virginia Cavaliers, 5-2, at the Currey Tennis Center over the weekend. The Commodores head to Ann Arbor and South Bend with growing confidence in their talented group of underclassmen. Vanderbilt’s freshmen and sophomore classes have combined to go 12-0 in both singles and doubles on the young season. Senior talents Audra Falk and Annie Menees will look to get back to their winning ways after a tough day against the Cavaliers. As a doubles pairing, the tandem is currently ranked 35th by the ITA. Since the spring of 2004, the pair has combined to post a record a 33-6 in dual-match play. The Commodores first challenge of the weekend takes the form of the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines. Coach Bitsy Ritt’s squad made a second-round appearance in the NCAA tourney in 2004 and looks to be headed back in ’05. The Wolverines feature senior and ITA No. 44 Michelle DaCosta. The All-Big Ten selection chalked up 15 dual match wins in 2004 and also is ranked No. 15 in doubles with partner Kara Delicata. “We have never beaten Michigan,” said Head Coach Geoff Macdonald. “It will be a very good early test for us.” The third ranked opponent the Dores look to sink in January is No. 21 Notre Dame. The Irish were the Big East runners-up with an overall record of 12-12 in 2004. Notre Dame features the nation’s second best doubles pairing in twins Catrina and Christian Thompson. Catrina also is ranked No. 69 by the ITA in singles play. “Notre Dame is a very, very good team,” said Macdonald. “They are a solid doubles team with a talented lineup.” The Commodores’ clash with the Wolverines is slated for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Dores suit up again at the same time on Sunday to face the Fighting Irish. |
