CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s women’s tennis team closed the Ohio Valley ITA Regional tournament with two championships.
Opening up doubles match play on the final day, Commodore duo Summer Dvorak and Christina Rosca battled against Lipscomb pair Dzyuba/Popova, falling short in the first set, 6-7.
In the second set, the Dore duo dominated the court by shutting out Dzyuba/Popova in a 6-0 victory, leading the match into a match supertiebreak. Prevailing in the tiebreak, Dvorak/Rosca conquered the court, 10-3, earning the Commodore pair the championship title.
In singles play, Vanderbilt teammates Emily Smith and Amanda Meyer competed for the Ohio Valley Regional singles championship title. Meyer opened up the match in a 6-4 victory against Smith, but Smith came back strong in the second set and defeated Meyer, 6-4, to force the match into a third set.
In the third, Meyer got an early start over the senior Smith, conquering the third set, 6-4, and earning the sophomore the match victory and title of the Ohio Valley Regionals singles champion.
The success at the Ohio Valley ITA Regional tournament earned four Dores spots in the Oracle/ITA fall national championships to join senior Fernanda Contreras. Meyer and Smith will compete in the fall championships in singles play while Commodore pair Dvorak/Rosca will take the courts in doubles play on Nov. 7 in Suprize, Arizona.
Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Geoff Macdonald could not have been more pleased with his team’s performance at the regional tournament.
“This is the outcome that you want out of a fall tournament. Everyone on the team gave it their all this tournament. It was an endurance tournament and this team stayed focused, worked very hard and earned every victory,” said Macdonald. “Having four players in the semifinals and walking away with two championship titles, it’s a good feeling. I am very proud of this team.”
The Dores are back in action on their home courts in Nashville hosting the June Stewart Invitational, which begins Friday, Oct. 26 and concludes Sunday, Oct. 28. Admission to the invitational is free.
