ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The No. 16 Vanderbilt women’s tennis team used strong singles play to earn an impressive 7-0 win over No. 38 Colorado at the Lobo Tennis Club on Sunday morning. The victory was Vanderbilt’s second of the weekend over a ranked opponent.
“I thought we had a really, really good duel today,” Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “Anytime you have a Sunday morning duel, you worry about the team coming out flat, but we played very well. I think we built some good momentum this weekend.”
With the win, the Commodores move to 3-0 on the season, while Colorado drops to 0-2.
Vanderbilt won the doubles point for the third-consecutive match. Senior Taka Bertrand and sophomore Catherine Newman moved to 3-0 at the No. 1 doubles position with an 8-3 victory over Melisa Esposito and Camila Belassi. Senior Amanda Taylor and junior Courtney Ulery clinched the doubles point for the Black and Gold at the second position with an 8-4 defeat of Gleisy Torres Torres and Abbie Probert. The team of senior Caroline Ferrell and freshman Keilly Ulery was unable to pull off the doubles sweep as Franziska Jendrian and Monica Milewski won at the No. 3 doubles spot 8-3.
In singles, No. 34 Taylor stayed perfect at the number one position with an impressive straight-set win over Milewski 6-2, 6-2.
No. 24 Newman picked up the third point for the `Dores at No. 2 singles. Newman only lost one game in her entire match as she downed Belassi 6-0, 6-1.
No. 13 Courtney Ulery clinched the victory for the Commodores with an easy victory over Melisa Esposito 6-0, 6-1.
Vanderbilt closed out singles play with three more victories. Bertrand moved to 3-0 at the No. 4 position, dispatching of Torres Torres 6-0, 6-2. Competing in her first match of the season, freshman Keilly Ulery defeated Probert 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. Ferrell closed out the singles sweep for the `Dores with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Veera Nurmi at No. 6 singles.
Vanderbilt returns to action next weekend as it welcomes two nationally-ranked teams to the Currey Tennis Center. The `Dores host No. 23 Michigan on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and welcome No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday at Noon.
Vanderbilt 7, Colorado 0
Lobo Tennis Club – Albuquerque, N.M.
Doubles Play:
1. Taka Bertrand/Catherine Newman (VU) def. Melisa Esposito/Camila Belassi (CU) – 8-3
2. Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Gleisy Torres Torres/Abbie Probert (CU) – 8-4
3. Franziska Jendrain/Monica Milewski (CU) def. Caroline Ferrell/Keilly Ulery (VU) – 8-3
Singles Play:
1. No. 34 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. Monica Milewski (CU) – 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 24 Catherine Newman (VU) def. Camila Belassi (CU) – 6-0, 6-1
3. No. 13 Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Melisa Esposito (CU) – 6-0, 6-1
4. Taka Bertrand (VU) def. Gleisy Torres Torres (CU) – 6-0, 6-2
5. Keilly Ulery (VU) def. Abbie Probert (CU) – 6-2, 6-1
6. Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Veera Nurmi (CU) – 6-3, 6-4
Team Records: Vanderbilt 3-0; Colorado 0-2
