Feb. 22, 2007
NASHVILLE – Led by the strong play of Catherine Newman, the 25th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team handed Georgia Tech (7-2) just their second loss of the season, defeating the Yellow Jackets, 5-2, at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center on the campus of Vanderbilt University Thursday afternoon.
The Commodores (4-5) won for the ninth time in the 11-match series with the Jackets after securing the doubles point and cruising to a 3-0 lead with wins at the Nos. 2 and 4 singles position before Taka Bertrand won the decisive point at the No. 3 singles slot.
Newman teamed with Bertrand to knock off Tech’s Tarryn Rudman and Alison Silverio, 8-1, at the No. 2 doubles slot before the Commodore duo of Liberty Sveke and Courtney Ulery clinched the decisive match with an 8-6 win against Tech’s Amanda Craddock and Kirsten Flower in the third doubles position.
The Yellow Jackets’ 18th-ranked duo of Kristi Miller and Whitney McCray continued their strong doubles play, breezing to an 8-2 victory over Vandy’s 19th-ranked Amanda Fish and Amanda Taylor.
With a 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 82 Tarryn Rudman at the No. 4 singles spot, the 39th-ranked Newman gave Vandy a 2-0 lead before 64th-ranked Taylor pushed the score to 3-0 with a 6-0, 6-3 win over No. 18 Kirsten Flower at No. 2 singles.
Miller, ranked 10th in the nation in singles, pulled the match to within two points at 3-1 by dropping 35th-ranked Fish, 6-2, 6-2, but a 6-2, 6-4 victory by the 96th-ranked Bertrand over No. 41 Silverio gave Vanderbilt match point.
A 7-5, 6-3 win by the Commodores’ Ulery at No. 5 singles capped Vandy’s scoring efore Tech’s 74th-ranked Amanda McDowell pulled out a 6-4, 7-5 victory at the sixth singles slot to finish off the match.
The Jackets will return to Atlanta to prepare for a match against Denver this Saturday at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The match will begin at 12 noon, with live stats available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
Tennis Match ResultsGeorgia Tech vs VanderbiltFeb 22, 2007 at Nashville, Tenn.
#25 Vanderbilt 5, #3 Georgia Tech 2
Singles competition1. #10 Kristi Miller (GT) def. #35 Amanda Fish (VU) 6-2, 6-22. #64 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. #18 Kirsten Flower (GT) 6-0, 6-33. #96 Taka Bertrand (VU) def. #41 Alison Silverio (GT) 6-2, 6-44. #39 Catherine Newman (VU) def. #82 Tarryn Rudman (GT) 6-2, 6-25. Courtney Ulery (VU) def. #45 Amanda Craddock (GT) 7-5, 6-36. #74 Amanda McDowell (GT) def. Caroline Ferrell (VU) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles competition1. #18 Whitney McCray/ Miller (GT) def. #19 Fish/Taylor (VU) 8-22. Bertrand/Newman (VU) def. Rudman/Silverio (GT) 8-13. Liberty Sveke/Courtney Ulery (VU) def. Amanda Craddock/Kirsten Flower (GT) 8-6
Match Notes:Georgia Tech 7-2; National ranking #3Vanderbilt 4-5; National ranking #25Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,1,3,5,6)
