URBANA, Ill. – The No. 19 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team jumped out an early 1-0 lead after the doubles point but it wasn’t enough in the end as No. 34 Illinois edged the Commodores 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The loss ends the season for Commodores as they finish the season 11-9.
The ‘Dores got singles wins from Catherine Newman and Keilly Ulery but Illinois took the other four to advance to tomorrow’s second round where they will face 16th-seeded Fresno State.
“Illinois played a great match today and we didn’t compete well at a couple of spots, head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “This is a very disappointing loss for our team and its tough to end the season like this.”
The Commodores jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after taking the doubles point from Illinois. Vanderbilt’s number one pair of Catherine Newman and Jackie Wu gave the ‘Dores some breathing room when they knocked off Illinois’s team of Leigh Finnegan and Chelcie Abajian 8-4. Newman and Wu jumped out to an early 5-1 lead before putting them away. It marked the first time this spring that Wu and Newman have paired up together in doubles.
Meanwhile on court three Vanderbilt’s Courtney and Keilly Ulery battled back and forth with Illinois’ team of Amy Allin and Annie McCarthy while trading wins. The Ulery sisters trailed three games to one before they rallied to win four of the next five games, taking a 5-4 lead. After dropping the next two games, the Florida natives tied the match at 7-7, before eventually winning the match 9-8 (7-3 in tiebreaker) and clinching the doubles point for the ‘Dores.
VU’s No. 2 doubles team of Chelsea Preeg and Heather Steinbauer were trailing 7-6 when the Ulery sisters clinched the point for the Commodores.
Illinois took a 2-1 lead in the overall match score when Steinbauer and Preeg fell in straight sets to Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos, respectively.
The ‘Dores quickly tied the match up at 2-2 when Newman topped U of I’s Finnegan in the No. 2 slot, winning, 6-2, 6-4. Newman’s win marked her ninth win over a ranked opponent. The Greensboro, N.C. native improved to 21-16 in singles play.
Keilly Ulery put the Commodores up 3-2, when she defeated Illinois’ Abajan in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6 tiebreaker) at No. 3 singles.
The final two singles matches remaining came down to three sets. Vanderbilt’s Jackie Wu who was competing at No. 1 for the first time this spring found herself in an early hole after dropping the first set 6-0 to Illinois’ Fudge. However, the freshman responded by forcing a third set after taking the second set 6-4. The third set went back-and-forth through the first few games before Fudge closed out the set 6-4 over Wu. Illinois’ win at No. 1 tied the team match at 3-3, setting the table for a tight finish at No. 6 singles.
After dropping the first set 6-4, Courtney Ulery regained her groove in the second set, winning 6-3 before falling in 7-6 (7-5) three-set tiebreaker.
The loss puts an end to VU’s season as they finish the season 11-9 overall. Vanderbilt’s Jackie Wu will play in the NCAA singles championship later this month while Newman was selected as an alternate. Wu and Steinbauer were selected as alternates for the doubles championship.
Saturday’s dual match with Illinois marked the final match of Courtney Ulery’s career. The graduating senior closes out her Commodore career with a 93-49 record in singles and 95-47 in doubles.
No. 34 Illinois 4, No. 19 Vanderbilt 3
Singles Results
1. No. 75 Megan Fudge (UI) def. No. 52 Jackie Wu (VU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
2. No. 64 Catherine Newman (VU) def. No. 103 Leigh Finnegan (UI) 6-2, 6-4
3. Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Chelcie Abajian (UI) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Marisa Lambropoulos (UI) def. Chelsea Preeg (VU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Amy Allin (UI) def. Heather Steinbauer (VU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Kristina Minor (UI) def. Courtney Ulery (VU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1, 6*
Doubles Results
1. Newman / Wu (VU) def. Finnegan / Abajian (UI) 8-4
2. Steinbauer / Preeg (VU) vs. Fudge / Lambropoulos (UI) DNF (UI led 7-6)
3. Ulery, C. / Ulery, K. (VU) def. Allin / McCarthy (UI) 9-8 (7-3)
order of finish: 1, 3*
