May 3, 2017
NCAA Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three women’s tennis student-athletes will represent the black and gold May 24-29 in the NCAA Singles and Doubles tournament, hosted by the University of Georgia.
Astra Sharma and Emily Smith cement their place in the Vanderbilt history books, as the NCAA announced Wednesday evening that the pair will be the No. 1 seed in the NCAA doubles tournament.
The tandem enters the NCAA team competition with a 13-3 (7-2) record. Interestingly enough, while Sharma and Smith are partners this season, the two student-athletes squared off last season in Vanderbilt’s NCAA second round match against Rice. Then competing for the Owl’s Smith narrowly fell to Sharma, to later make her first NCAA doubles appearance with partner Katherine Ip. 2017 will be Sharma’s second appearance in the doubles tournament, after making her way to the 2015 quarterfinals with Ashleigh Antal.
Sharma/Smith make program history as the first No. 1 overall seed! #FIGHTDORES pic.twitter.com/hqjq9Ln5J4
 Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) May 3, 2017
Sharma will be competing in the NCAA singles tournament as the No. 3 seed. AS the reigning SEC Player of the Year, the Perth, Australia native boasts a 16-4 (11-4) record this season. Overall the redshirt-junior owns an astounding 90-26-career record, and made it to the semifinals of both ITA championships this fall.
“It’s a great feeling and an honor to be seeded anywhere going into the tournament,” said Smith. “The number one seeding is really just the icing on the cake. I think this is just a testament to the way Astra and I haven’t worried about results too much and just really kept our heads down. We’ve been working hard to get better at the little things every day, and we’ll continue to do so in the lead up to the tournament so we can compete as hard as we can.”
Senior Sydney Campbell will make her third-straight appearance I the NCAA individual
tournament, beginning her 2017 journey as a 9-16 seed. Campbell recently eclipsed her 100th Commodore victory in route to capture the program’s second-ever SEC Tournament MVP award. Last season the Franklin, Tenn. native fell in the first round of play and advanced to the second round in 2015.
Sydney Campbell | Third-stright appearance in @NCAATennis Singles Tournament. #FIGHTDORES pic.twitter.com/CHaILdRi0E
— Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) May 3, 2017
Fans can catch Campbell, Smith and Sharma on May 12th, as the Dores host SIUE at 4 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA team tournament. For a behind the scenes look at the program, follow @VandyWTennis on Twitter.