LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team finished the regular season with a 6-1 win over the Wildcats in Lexington.
The match started with a doubles split at Nos. 1 and 2. Vanderbilt’s Taka Bertrand and Catherine Newman pair defeated UK’s Caroline Escamilla and Sarah Woestmann 8-5, while Vandy’s Amanda Fish and Amanda Taylor were defeated at No. 1 8-5. Vanderbilt’s sophomore tandem of Courtney Ulery and Liberty Sveke pulled through with a tense 9-8 win featuring a 9-7 tiebreaker.
VU started singles with a straight set win by Newman, putting the Commodores up 2-0. The Wildcats then fought the ‘Dores through three sets at Nos. 1, 2 and 4, but couldn’t notch a victory. With the wins, VU’s lineup leader Amanda Fish earned her seventh SEC win, while Amanda Taylor and Taka Bertrand notched their 10th conference win of the season.
After helping clinch the doubles point for the Commodores, sophomore Courtney Ulery was unable to earn a singles win, falling at No. 5 to Whitney Spencer. VU’s Liberty Sveke finished the match with a 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 6.
The No. 17 Commodores improved their overall record 16-7 with a 9-2 SEC mark, while the Wildcats finished 7-4 in conference play.
Next up for Commodores will be the Southeastern Conference tournament. The team will likely earn a first round bye and begin play on Friday, April 20 in Lexington.
RESULTS
Vanderbilt 6, Kentucky 1
DOUBLES
1. Coventry/Schwenk (UK) d. Taylor/Fish (VU) 8-5
2. Bertrand/Newman (VU) d. Escamilla/Woestmann (UK) 8-5
3. Ulery/Sveke (VU) d. Winebrenner/Spencer (UK) 9-8(9-7)
SINGLES
1. Amanda Fish (VU) d. Kim Coventry (UK) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7-4)
2. Amanda Taylor (VU) d. Joelle Schwenk (UK) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Catherine Newman (VU) d. Sarah Woestmann (UK) 6-3, 7-5
4. Taka Bertrand (VU) d. Caroline Escamilla (UK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
5. Whitney Spencer (UK) d. Courtney Ulery (VU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Liberty Sveke (VU) d. Jessica Giuggioli (UK) 6-3, 7-6(1)
