TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Vanderbilt women’s tennis started the SEC Fall Coaches Classic off in dominant fashion as they went a combined 7-1 in singles action Thursday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The seven singles win for the Commodores led all teams.
Freshman Jackie Wu notched her team leading 12th win of the fall as she defeated Alabama’s Courtney McLane in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The Holmdel, N.J., native will square off against South Carolina’s Gira Schofield in tomorrow’s second round.
Junior Catherine Newman clinched a spot in Friday’s second round by dispatching Laura Van de Stroet of Mississippi in consecutive sets, 6-4, 6-3. With the win, Newman pushes her fall mark to 12-5. The Greensboro, N.C., native will face off against Georgia’s Monika Dancevic in tomorrow’s second round.
The Ulery sisters followed suit as they picked up a pair of singles wins Thursday. Courtney Ulery had little trouble with South Carolina’s Ashley Miller as she breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 victory while Keilly battled back after dropping the first set to defeat Radka Ferancova of Mississippi State in thee sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Junior Hannah Blatt advanced in the green draw by knocking off Mississippi State’s Valeriya Makarycheva in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. The Nashville, Tenn., native will square off against Jordan Zachary of Mississippi State in tomorrow’s second round.
The freshman pair of Heather Steinbauer and Chelsea Preeg advanced to tomorrow’s semi-finals round of their respected draws. Steinbauer picked up her sixth win in seven tries by dispatching Auburn’s Daniela Vuckadinovic 6-4, 6-3, while Preeg improved to 9-2 after defeating LSU’s Nicole Smith in consecutive sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Competition will begin Friday with two rounds doubles action slated to begin at 9 a.m., with one singles match to follow.
A recap and results from each day of the SEC Fall Coaches Classic will posted on vucommodores.com.
Crimson Draw Singles
Jackie Wu (VU) def. Courtney McLane (Alabama) 6-3, 6-3
White Draw Singles
Catherine Newman (VU) def. Laura Van de Stroet (Mississippi) 6-4, 6-3
Gold Draw Singles
Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Ashley Miller (South Carolina) 6-2, 6-2
Silver Draw Singles
Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Radka Ferancova (Mississippi State) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Bronze Draw Singles
Heather Steinbauer (VU) def. Daniela Vuckadinovic (Auburn) 6-4, 6-3
Blue Draw Singles
Chelsea Preeg (VU) def. Nicole Smith (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
Green Draw Singles
Alice Tunaru (Alabama) def. Erica Robertson (VU) 7-6(4), 6-4
Hannah Blatt (VU) def. Valeriya Makarycheva (Mississippi State) 7-5, 6-3
