LEXINGTON, Ky. – After taking the doubles point, the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team battled through a Kentucky comeback to earn 4-2 victory over the Wildcats in the second round of the SEC tournament Friday morning.
The third-seeded Commodores (17-7, 9-2) will advance to face second-seeded Florida in semifinals of the tournament at 9 a.m. CT in Lexington, Ky.
Vanderbilt took the advantage early in the match with two doubles wins from tandems Amanda Fish/Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery/Liberty Sveke.
After falling to UK’s ninth-ranked duo Kim Coventry/Joelle Schwenk less than a week earlier, Fish/Taylor defeated the Wildcats 8-2, for the VU pair’s largest margin of victory in 2007 and highest upset during dual match season.
Go-to starter Taka Bertrand kicked off the singles portion of the match with a straight set win over Carolina Escamilla (6-1, 6-2) to put Vanderbilt up 2-0.
The Wildcats then struck back, defeating Vanderbilt sophomores Courtney Ulery and Liberty Sveke in straight sets at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. With the wins the match was gridlocked at 2-2.
VU freshman Catherine Newman broke the tie with a win at No. 3, brining the ‘Dores within one match victory of taking the second round of the tournament. However, with VU lineup leaders Taylor and Fish dropping first sets, the match was far from decided on at this point.
After falling 6-2 to UK’s Kim Coventry in the opening set, Vandy’s Fish returned with a 6-3 second set win to take the Wildcat into a third set battle.
It was déjàvu for the Vanderbilt senior, who notched a second set win to take Coventry to tiebreaker set less than a week earlier in Lexington, during the regular season closer.
A week ago Fish edged Coventry in a 7-6 tiebreaker, but Friday fish earned the third set win with a 6-2 mark.
For the semifinals, the No. 15 Commodores will face No. 3 Florida who advanced following a 4-1 victory over LSU on Friday. During the regular season, Florida’s 4-3 win over Vanderbilt was one of only two conference losses for the Commodores.
RESULTS
No. 15 Vanderbilt 4, No. 31 Kentucky 2
Singles
1. #19 Amanda Fish (VU) d. Kim Coventry (UK) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Joelle Schwenk (UK) vs. #28 Amanda Taylor (VU) 6-4, 5-4, dnf.
3. #46 Catherine Newman (VU) d. Sarah Woestmann (UK) 6-4, 6-2
4. #115 Taka Bertrand (VU) d. Carolina Escamilla (UK) 6-1, 6-2
5. Whitney Spencer (UK) d. Courtney Ulery (VU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Jessica Giuggioli (UK) d. Liberty Sveke (VU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. #16 Fish/Taylor (VU) d. #9 Coventry/Schwenk (UK) 8-2
2. Bertrand/Newman (VU) vs. Woestmann/Escamilla (UK) 8-7 dnf
3. Ulery/Sveke (VU) d. Caroline Winebrenner/Spencer 8-5
