NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Heather Steinbauer clinched the match for the second consecutive dual as Vanderbilt defeated No. 17 Alabama 5-2 at the Currey Tennis Center Sunday. Vanderbilt’s has now won 15 consecutive dual matches over the Crimson Tide, with all of them coming under current head Geoff Macdonald. The Commodores (7-5, 3-2 SEC) won their second consecutive match over a team from Alabama as the ‘Dores registered a 4-3 victory over Auburn on Friday.
“I thought today was a great example of a gritty performance from our team against a real tough Alabama squad,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald. Our team was focused today and it showed in the way we played.”
The Commodores jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after winning two of the three doubles matches to take the doubles point. VU’s pair of Courtney and Keilly Ulery registered their second consecutive win as they knocked off Alabama’s pair of Meritt Emery and Shelley Godwin, 8-3. The team of Catherine Newman and Chelsea Preeg’s paired up to collect an 8-6 win over Paulina Bigos and Taylor Lindsey, clinching the doubles point for the ‘Dores.
After winning the doubles point Vanderbilt quickly put the ‘Tide away as Keilly Ulery, Wu, Steinbauer, and Newman put the ‘Dores up 5-0 after they all won their respected singles matches. Wu, Steinbauer, and Keilly Ulery posted straight set singles victories while Newman won in three sets.
Newman, a native of Greensboro, N.C., once again showed her durability and stamina as she picked up a key three-set win over UA’s Welcher. After falling 4-6 in the first set, VU’s junior won nine consecutive games to regain momentum in the match.
The match was forced to move inside the Currey Tennis Center due to the cold and windy weather in the Nashville area.
Vanderbilt continues its three-match homestand as they host Mississippi State and Ole Miss next week in Nashville. The ‘Dores will host Mississippi State Friday, April 3rd at 2:30 p.m. before closing out the home stand with the Rebels on Sunday at noon.
VU’s match with Ole Miss marks the final regular season home match for senior Courtney Ulery and the Commodores.
No. 26 Vanderbilt 5, No. 17 Alabama 2
Singles
1. No. 61 Catherine Newman (VU) def. No. 105 Tiffany Welcher (UA) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
2. No. 64 Jackie Wu (VU) def. Courtney McLane (UA) 6-2, 6-2
3. No. 112 Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA) 6-1, 6-4
4. Meritt Emery (UA) def. Chelsea Preeg (VU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
5. Heather Steinbauer (VU) def. Shelley Godwin (UA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Courtney Ulery (VU) 6-3, 6-2
order of finish: 3, 2, 5*, 1, 4, 6
Doubles
1. Welcher / McLane (UA) def. Steinbauer / Wu (VU) 9-7
2. Newman / Preeg (VU) def. Bigos / Lindsey (UA) 8-6
3. C. Ulery / K. Ulery (VU) def. Emery / Godwin (UA) 8-3
order of finish: 3, 2*, 1
