Oct. 29, 2016
Final Stats | Puerto Rico College Challenge 
PALMAS DEL MAR, P.R. – After two days of competition in beautiful Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico several members of the Vanderbilt women’s tennis teams have garnered wins over some of the top players in the nation at the Puerto Rico College Challenge.
Competing against student-athletes from Georgia, Old Dominion and Virginia, the Dores have been able to pick up major wins while also experiencing a new culture.
“The team has performed really well over the past two days,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. “We’ve dealt with a lot of adversity so far – heat and rain – but the team has really held their own against some of the best in the country. Not only is this tournament about gaining experience on the court, but its about learning about the Puerto Rican culture and growing together as a team. We’ve gone kayaking, swimming, tasted different foods, all while playing quality tennis. You can’t ask for much more out of your team.”
In doubles the Commodores generated a solid performance against the Bulldogs’ Eleni Christofi and Marta Gonzalez. Vandy’s Christina Rosca and Fernanda Contreras downed the freshman Dawgs, allowing only the inter-conference foes three games.
In a battle between ITA All-Americans No. 19 Astra Sharma defeated UGA’s Kennedy Schaffer, who advanced to last season’s NCAA quarterfinals, in a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Success over the two days of play continued against the Bulldogs on Saturday, as freshmen Christina Rosca and Emma Kurtz battled through tough matches to defeat their Georgia opponents.
Rosca defeated All-SEC honoree Caroline Brinson in a three-set thriller. The freshman from Princeton, N.J. pulled off the win over the senior, 6-4, 4-5, 7-5. Kurtz, a native of Atlanta defeated Laura Patterson, 6-4 in the first set and didn’t allow the junior a single point in the second set tiebreaker, 7-6(0).
Against student-athletes from Old Dominion, both Georgina Sellyn and Emily Smith fought hard, forcing third sets but ultimately falling to the Big Blue 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-7, 1-0(9) respectively.
The Commodores look forward to closing out their trip with matches against ODU and UVA tomorrow morning.
