GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Vanderbilt doubles team of Catherine Newman and Taka Bertrand won the second flight at the Furman Fall Classic defeating Carol Salge and Estefania Balda from Clemson 8-2. In singles play, the Commodores won six matches and placed five players in tomorrow’s championship round.
“I’m very pleased with how we’ve played the first two days,” head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “I’m very happy with how well we’ve competed. The good thing about this tournament is you can see what you need to do to get better and still win matches, so it’s fun.”
The duo of Newman and Bertrand, ranked No. 58, scored an upset victory over the No. 32 team of Salge and Balda to win the championship in flight two of doubles. The Commodore pair claimed a convincing 8-2 victory.
“Catherine and Taka played great today,” Macdonald said. “This is a great way for them to get ready for the Riviera All-Americans next week.”
Also in doubles, No. 21 Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery claimed an 8-2 victory over Elizabeth Carpenter and Jessica Seyferth from Wisconsin. In flight three of doubles, Caroline Ferrell and Keilly Ulery lost a close match to Jessica Durisic and Linzee Mabrey of North Carolina, falling 9-8 (7-5).
In singles play, No. 20 Taylor advanced to the championship of flight one with a 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 82 Laura Gioia of Furman. Taylor faces No. 21 Ani Mijacika of Clemson in the finals tomorrow.
In flight two, No. 27 Newman did not lose a game in her 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Laura Reichert from North Carolina. The Commodore sophomore meets No. 77 Ana Zubori from South Carolina in tomorrow’s championship.
No. 73 Bertrand advanced to the finals of flight three in straight sets with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 victory over Meg Fanjoy of North Carolina. Bertrand faces Laurianne Henry from Clemson tomorrow.
Junior Courtney Ulery won her semifinal match in flight five with a three-set victory over Alexandra Luc of Clemson. Ulery lost the first set 4-6, but came back to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-4. Ulery meets Alex Jurewitz of North Carolina in the finals tomorrow.
Ferrell rounds out the Commodores advancing to tomorrow’s championship round as she defeated Natasa Manojlovic of Furman 6-1, 6-3. Ferrell meets Tennessee’s Samantha Orlin in the flight six championship match.
Freshman Keilly Ulery claimed her first collegiate singles victory, defeating Denisa Zobeideh of Penn State 6-4, 6-2. Ulery faces Sophie Grabinski of North Carolina in the fifth place match of flight four.
Katie Kilborn fell in the semifinals of flight seven, losing to Tennessee’s Rosalia Alda 6-0, 6-0. Kilborn meets Kim Roberts of Wisconsin in the third-place match tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
Junior Liberty Sveke was held out of play for the second straight day due to illness.
Action concludes tomorrow with the opening matches of the day scheduled for 9 a.m. Complete results will be available on vucommodores.com.
Day Two Results – Furman Fall Classic
Minor Herndon Mickel Tennis Center – Greenville, S.C.
Singles Play:
No. 20 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Laura Gioia (Furman) – 6-3, 6-1 – Flight One
No. 27 Catherine Newman (VU) def. Laura Reichert (UNC) – 6-0, 6-0 – Flight Two
No. 73 Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Meg Fanjoy (UNC) – 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 – Flight Three
Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) – 6-4, 6-2 – Flight Four
Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Alexandra Luc (CU) – 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 – Flight Five
Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Natasa Manojlovic (Furman) – 6-1, 6-3 – Flight Six
Kathi Gerber (CU) def. Liberty Sveke (VU) – ret. – Flight Seven
Rosalia Alda (UT) def. Katie Kilborn (VU) – 6-0, 6-0 – Flight Seven
Doubles Play:
No. 21 Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Elizabeth Carpenter/Jessica Seyferth (UW) – 8-2 – Flight One
No. 58 Newman/Bertrand (VU) def. Carol Salge/Estefania Balda (CU) – 8-2 – Flight Two
Jessica Durisic/Linzee Mabrey (UNC) def. Ferrell/Keilly Ulery (VU) – 9-8 (7-5) – Flight Three
