KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team wrapped up the first day of the St. Mary’s Tournament by going 3-2 in singles and 2-1 in doubles Friday. The Commodores were led by its three upperclassmen in singles, as Catherine Newman, Hannah Blatt and Keilly Ulery all registered wins.
Newman, who is competing in the second flight this weekend, picked up a big three-set win over Tennessee’s Rosalia Alda to advance in the winner’s bracket. The Greensboro, N.C., native won the first set 6-4 before dropping the second set 1-6 and forcing a third and final set. Once again, Newman showed why she wears her opponents down by outworking them in the final set and the same was true on Friday as the VU senior won the deciding set 6-3.
Blatt also needed three sets to get the job done on Friday as she topped Carla Nava of Middle Tennessee State for her third win in her last four matches. After dropping the first set 6-4, Blatt rallied in the match to win the second and third sets, 6-4, 6-3 for the win. With the win, the senior improves to 9-5 this fall.
Ulery, who is competing in the third flight this weekend, notched a straight set win over MTSU’s Yuiri Nomoto, 6-0, 6-4, for her 10th win of the fall season. The Wellington, Fla., native has now won eight of her last 10 matches.
In doubles, VU’s pair of Jackie Wu and Preeg continued its strong fall campaign with a first round win over Wake Forest’s team of Martina Pavalec and Emilee Malvehy in the first flight. With the win, the sophomore duo improves to 12-4.
The senior-junior tandem of Newman and Ulery teamed up for the first time in fall competition Friday as they defeated the Demon Deacon pair of Sasha Kulikova and Katarina Reveche, 8-6. It marked the first time all season that Newman and Ulery.
The second day of the St. Mary’s Tournament will resume Saturday morning from the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.
Friday, November 6, 2009
St. Mary’s Tournament
Singles Results
Flight One
Maria Sorbello (Tennessee) def. Chelsea Preeg (VU) 7-6, 6-2
Flight Two
Catherine Newman (VU) def. Rosalia Alda (Tennessee) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Flight Three
Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MTSU) 6-0, 6-4
Flight Five
Hannah Blatt (VU) def. Carla Nava (MTSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Flight Six
Taylor Coffey (MTSU) def. Megan Gornet (VU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Results
Flight One
Wu / Preeg (VU) def. Pavalec / Malvehy (Wake Forest) 8-4
Flight Two
Newman / Ulery (VU) def. Kulikova / Reveche (Wake Forest) 8-6
Flight Three
Cutiloo / Talbert (Wake Forest) def. Blatt / Gornet (VU) 8-6
