COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team opened up conference play to the 12th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, falling 4-3. With the loss the Commodores now own an 8-3 record.
Vanderbilt got off to a slow start, dropping the doubles point for the sixth match this season. However, the ‘Dores generated the first win of the day, as Courtney Colton and Frances Altick defeated the Gamecocks’ Folland/Dailey; 6-3. The Commodore battled on courts one and three, ultimately suffering losses; 6-4 and 7-5.
In singles, the ‘Dores earned the 2-1 advantage with bang-bang wins on courts three and two by Altick and Astra Sharma. Both ranked student-athletes handedly defeated their opponents in straight sets.
Altick earned an easy 6-1, 6-1 victor over No. 110 Paige Cline, with Sharma following on two with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over the Gamecocks’ Martins. Freshman Fernanda Contreras sealed VU’s third singels win of the day, as the San Luis Potosi, Mexico native downed senior Ximena Siles Luna 7-5, 6-3.
Up 3-1 and looking for their fourth and final victory, South Carolina raced back into the competition with an upset on court one. No. 109, Caroline Daily, took No. 24 Sydney Campbell to three sets. The Gamecock come out on top 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2.
Hadley Berg backed up the victory with one of her own, taking court four 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 over Colton to level the score to 3-all.
With the match down to No. 5 singles, Georgina Sellyn fought hard throughout the third set saving match point, but ultimately couldn’t close out the match and falling 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Folland.
The Commodores will need to bounce back from the loss on the road quickly, as the squad travels to the hostile territory of the Florida Gators. Sunday match begins at 12:0 pm CT.
Results:
#12 South Carolina 4, #5 Vanderbilt, 3
Singles
- #109 Caroline Dailey (USC) d. #24 Sydney Campbell (VU) 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-2
- #33 Astra Sharma (VU) d. Ingrid Gamarra Martins (USC) 6-3, 6-0
- #16 Frances Altick (VU) d. #110 Paige Cline (USC) 6-1, 6-1
- Hadley Berg (USC) d. Courtney Colton (VU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
- Brigit Folland (USC) d. Georgina Sellyn (VU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Fernanda Contreras (VU) d. Ximena Siles Luna (USC) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
- #54 Cline/Berg (USC) d. #61 Yates/Sharma (VU) 6-4
- Colton/Altick (VU) d. Folland/Dailey (USC) 6-3
- Martins/Siles Luna (USC) d. Contreras/Campbell (VU) 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3*); Singles (3, 2, 6, 4, 1, 5*)
