ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The No. 16 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 5-2 victory over No. 67 New Mexico (0-1) on Friday evening at the Lobo Tennis Club.
“New Mexico has a really good team,” head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “It’s always hard to travel and to get used to the altitude. We played very well in doubles and Amanda (Taylor) and Taka (Bertrand) were dominant in singles.”
The win marks the first win ever for a Vanderbilt women’s tennis team in the Mountain Time zone.
Vanderbilt started the match out strong, capturing the doubles point. The tandem of Taka Bertrand and Catherine Newman won at the No. 1 position, defeating Ola Abou-Zekry and Lucy Scott 8-4. Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery clinched the doubles point for the `Dores, winning 8-3 at the second position over Emma Hayman and Sandra Zmak. Caroline Ferrell and Katie Kilborn fell in the third position to Mackenzie White and Jennifer Ryba 8-5.
In singles, No. 34 Taylor won easily at No. 1 singles with a straight-set victory over White. Taylor won 6-1, 6-0 to notch the second point for the `Dores.
No. 13 Courtney Ulery improved to 2-0 on the season at the third position with a hard-fought victory over No. 85 Zmak. Ulery dominated the first set, winning 6-1, before falling in the second 6-3. Ulery won the tiebreaking third set 6-2.
Bertrand clinched the match for the Commodores with an impressive straight-set win over Hayman. Bertrand only lost one game in the match, winning 6-0, 6-1.
Ferrell garnered the fifth point for Vanderbilt with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ryba.
No. 24 Newman lost a three-set match in the No. 2 singles position. Newman won the opening set 6-3, but lost the second set 6-2. The two played a 10-point tiebreaker to decide the match, with Abou-Zekry winning 11-9.
In the No. 6 singles position, Kilborn lost in straight sets to Victoria Tessmar 6-3, 6-0.
The Commodores continue their road trip on Sunday, facing No. 38 Colorado at the Lobo Tennis Club.
“We have tried to schedule some really tough teams on the road early in the season,” Macdonald said. “The win over New Mexico is a step in the right direction for our team.”
Complete results from Sunday’s match will be available on the official website of Vanderbilt athletics – vucommodores.com.
Vanderbilt 5, New Mexico 2
Lobo Tennis Club – Albuquerque, N.M.
Doubles:
1. Taka Bertrand/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Ola Abou Zekry/Lucy Scott (UNM) – 8-4
2. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Emma Hayman/Sandra Zmak (UNM) – 8-3
3. Mackenzie White/Jennifer Ryba (UNM) def. Caroline Ferrell/Katie Kilborn (VU) – 8-5
Singles:
1. No. 34 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Mackenzie White (UNM) – 6-1, 6-0
2. Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) def. No. 24 Catherine Newman (VU) – 3-6, 6-2, (11-9)
3. No. 13 Courtney Ulery (VU) def. No. 85 Sandra Zmak (UNM) – 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
4. Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Emma Hayman (UNM) – 6-0, 6-1
5. Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Jennifer Ryba (UNM) – 6-3, 6-4
6. Victoria Tessmar (UNM) def. Katie Kilborn (VU) – 6-3, 6-0
Team Records: Vanderbilt 2-0; New Mexico 0-1
