NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was a successful first day in Knoxville at the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regionals for Vanderbilt’s women’s tennis team. The Commodores compiled a combined singles and doubles record of 9-2 in Saturday’s tournament play.
“Astra (Sharma) and Ashleigh (Antal) looked really strong in both of their doubles matches,” said associate head coach Aleke Tsoubanos. It’s kind of tricky since we’re at two different sites, but Sydney (Campbell) and Astra (Sharma) played very well in their singles match this afternoon. Everyone is looking forward to more great competition.”
The Commodores only went to tiebreakers in one match the entire day with Ellie Yates defeating Indiana’s Kauss; 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6). Vanderbilt’s three top-10 singles seeds won all three matches in the round of 64. (1) Sydney Campbell and (2) Courtney Colton only dropped a combined three games in singles play.
The Commodores took one singles loss as the No. 3 seeded, Marie Casares, lost in the round of 64 to Louisville’s Aleksandra Mally; 7-5, 6-1.
Casares and doubles partner Yates were defeated later by Purdue’s Vidal and Bernard-Feig. Daniela Vidal participated in Vanderbilt’s June Stewart Invitational last week as the tournaments most electric players.
Vanderbilt’s two other doubles duos at the four-day tournament move on to Sunday’s semifinals, facing two SEC foes in Kentucky and rival Tennessee.(6) Astra Sharma and Ashleigh Antal face the No. 1 seed and No. 12 ranked tandems team out of Kentucky, Nadia Ravita and Aldila Sutjiadi. Ranked No. 17 by the ITA, Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell face Tennessee’s (3) Lindl/Olivarez. The UT duo is ranked one spot ahead of Colton/Campbell, coming in at No. 16.
Sunday’s regional action kicks things off with doubles at 9 a.m. and singles later at 3 p.m. ET.
