NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team began the 2017 season Friday afternoon by sweeping the Virginia Tech Hokies 4-0 for the squad’s 36th-straight home victory.
VU is set to play the second-seeded Kansas Jayhawks Saturday at 1 p.m. for the ITA Kickoff site championship. The winner of tomorrow’s championship will advance to national team indoors, which is hosted by Yale and begins Feb. 10.
In doubles, the Commodores sealed the one-point advantage, handedly taking courts two and three. Astra Sharma and Emma Kurtz only allowed the Hokies one game in their 6-1 victory over Katherine Butler and Francesca Fusinato. On court three, Emily Smith and Fernanda Contreras downed Nataloe Novotna and Sansitha Nandakumar 6-2 for the clinch.
With the doubles point in the squad’s possession, Vandy went on a tear in singles taking four of the five first sets and pulling off victories on courts four, one and five, respectively.
Redshirt junior Georgina Sellyn was the first off the court, dominating Shene Disbergen, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Second-ranked Astra Sharma gave the ‘Dores their 3-0 advantage, only allowing Fusinato four games in her 6-2, 6-2 victory on court one. The victory at No. 1 singles was the redshirt-junior’s third career win at the top of the lineup.
In her first dual match as a Commodore, Kurtz earned her first collegiate clinch with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Katherine Butler.
All Vanderbilt regular season matches are free. For updates and a behind the scenes look at the program, follow @VandyWTennis on Twitter.
