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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 12 Vanderbilt Commodores (2-2) dropped their second match of the weekend to No. 4 Notre Dame (2-0) on the road Sunday.
“It was a good match, a close match,” Vanderbilt Assistant Coach Meike Babel said. “We played much better than yesterday. It’s unfortunate that we lost.”
The Irish pulled ahead early in the dual match by taking the doubles point 3-0. Notre Dame clinched the point when No. 11 sisters Catrina and Christian Thompson defeated Vanderbilt’s Caroline Ferrell and Amanda Taylor at No. 1 8-3. Following the decision Taka Bertrand and Catherine Newman narrowly dropped a tiebreaker to nationwide top five tandem Brooke Buck and Kelcy Tefft (8-7(9)).
After dropping her first set 6-1, Vanderbilt sophomore Liberty Svekefought back against Notre Dame’s Cosmina Ciobanu, but was unable to pull out a win, falling 6-4.
No. 24 Catherine Newman was the first Commodore to earn a point towards the Vanderbilt total, defeating Christian Thompson in straight sets (6-4, 6-1). The win marks Newman’s third consecutive singles victory.
No. 41 Catrina Thompson put the Irish up 3-1 by defeating No. 42 Amanda Taylor 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.
Commodore Ulery followed with a straight set win at No. 4 over Kelcy Tefft 7-6(6) 6-1 bringing the Commodores within one point of tying the Irish. Ulery dropped her second match of the fall season to Tefft at the Roberta Alison Fall Classic in September.
“Courtney played extremely well,” Babel said. “It was great to see her win today after the loss to same player last year.”
Notre Dame opponent Katie Potts clinched the win at No. 6 singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Vanderbilt’s Caroline Ferrell.
Taka Bertrand finished the contest with a 7-6(1), 2-6, 6-3 upset over No. 31 Colleen Rielley to set the final score at 4-3.
The Commodores will have a few days off before traveling to Wisconsin for the ITA National Indoors Tournament February 1-4.
Final Results
Singles
1. #41 Ca. Thompson (ND) d. #42 Amanda Taylor (VU) 6-1, 6-4
2. #57 Bertrand (VU) d. #31 Rielley (ND) 6-7(1), 2-6, 6-3
3. #24 Newman (VU) d. Ch. Thompson (ND) 6-4, 6-1
4. Ulery (VU) d. Tefft (ND) 7-6(6), 6-1
5. Ciobanu (ND) d. Sveke (VU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Potts (ND) d. Ferrell (VU) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1. #11 Thompson;/Thompson (ND) d. Ferrell/Taylor 8-3
2. #5 Buck/Tefft (ND) d. Bertrand/Newman (VU) 8-7(9)
3. Ciobanu/Kriski (ND) d. Sveke/Ulery (VU) 8-4
