NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt women’s team made a valiant comeback but fell just short as No. 30 Arkansas claimed a 5-2 victory on Friday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center. Arkansas improves to 9-5 and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play, while Vanderbilt drops to 8-3, 0-3 in conference action.
“First off, I commend Arkansas,” Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “They’re a heck of a team. I knew they would be. They played really well. They just hadn’t had a breakthrough win yet, and today was one for them. I congratulate them.”
Arkansas won a very closely contested doubles point. The Lady `Backs claimed the match at No. 2 doubles as No. 54 Nanar Airapetian and Maryori Franco defeated Caroline Ferrell and Catherine Newman 9-7. Just seconds later, Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery evened it up with an 8-6 win over No. 21 Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder at the No. 1 doubles position. The 59th-ranked team of Audrey Bordeleau and Anouk Tigu defeated Taka Bertrand and Keilly Ulery 9-7 at the third doubles position to claim the first point of the match for the Lady Razorbacks.
In singles play, freshman Keilly Ulery evened the match at one with a dominating performance at No. 5 singles. Ulery defeated Airapetian 6-0, 6-1 to improve to 6-2 in dual matches and 2-1 in SEC contests.
At No. 1 singles, No. 1 ranked Miseviciute defeated No. 35 Taylor 6-2, 6-4 to put the Lady `Backs back in the lead 2-1. Franco increased Arkansas’ lead to 3-1 with a three-set victory over No. 51 Courtney Ulery. Franco won the opening set 6-4, but Ulery responded with a 6-3 victory in the second set. Franco captured the final set 6-2.
Bertrand cut the lead to 3-2 at the third singles position. Bertrand dropped the opening set 6-3, but the Vanderbilt senior came back in impressive fashion to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3. The win improves Bertrand’s career singles record to 111-33. She is four wins shy of passing Julie Ditty for most singles wins in a career in Vanderbilt history.
Bordeleau clinched the match for the Lady Razorbacks with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ferrell at the No. 6 singles position.
Kaluder gave Arkansas its fifth and final point in a hard-fought three-set win over No. 37 Newman. Newman won the opening set 7-5, but Kaluder came back to win the next two sets 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Vanderbilt returns to action on Sunday as it welcomes No. 21 LSU to the Currey Tennis Center. Opening serve is slated for noon (CST).
Friday’s Results:
No. 30 Arkansas 5 def. No. 20 Vanderbilt 2
Doubles:
1. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. No. 21 Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (UA) – 8-6
2. No. 54 Nanar Airapetian/Maryori Franco (UA) def. Caroline Ferrell/Catherine Newman (VU) – 9-7
3. No. 59 Audrey Bordeleau/Anouk Tigu def. Taka Bertrand/Keilly Ulery (VU) – 9-7
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles:
1. No. 1 Aurelija Miseviciute (UA) def. No. 35 Amanda Taylor (VU) – 6-2, 6-4
2. Ela Kaluder (UA) def. No. 37 Catherine Newman (VU) – 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
3. Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Anouk Tigu (UA) – 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Maryori Franco (UA) def. Courtney Ulery (VU) – 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
5. Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Nanar Airopetian (UA) – 6-0, 6-1
6. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Caroline Ferrell (VU) – 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 1, 4, 3, 6, 2
Updated Team Records: Vanderbilt 8-3, 0-3 SEC; Arkansas 9-5, 2-1 SEC
