ROME, Ga. — The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team secured two qualifying spots at the NCAA Doubles Championships behind multiple doubles wins at the ITA Sectional Championships and Conference Masters Championships.
The Dores opened Friday at the ITA Sectional Championships with an SEC singles matchup between sophomore Valeria Ray and Georgia’s Guillermina Grant. Ray entered the match a winner of consecutive contests, both over conference opponents. Grant, though, stifled the Commodore throughout the match. Ray generated multiple contested points but could not overcome the Bulldog, with Grant pulled away to a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Vanderbilt bounced back in doubles play. Junior Bridget Stammel joined Ray in a 6-2, 6-2 takedown of Ole Miss’ Emma Kette and Rachel Krzyzak to move into the doubles semifinals. At the ITA Conference Masters Championship, the No. 29 ranked doubles pair of senior Célia-Belle Mohr and freshman Sophia Webster returned to the court together for the first time since Sept. 27. The two did not miss a beat, executing multiple serving points and controlling the match from start to finish. The Dore duo downed Sally Pethybridge and Alaia Rubio Perez of Portland 6-1, 6-2 before cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Denver’s Andrea Beltran and Marley Lambert.
Both doubles teams return to play tomorrow with a chance to earn a championship berth. In the sectional doubles semifinals, Stammel and Ray are set to battle against Alejandra Cruz and Given Roach of Georgia Tech at 10 a.m. CT. Mohr and Webster face Xavier’s Abby Nugent and Clara Owen in the masters doubles semifinals at a time to be determined. The updated ITA Sectional and Conference Masters tournament page is available online.
Results:
SINGLES
Grant (Georgia) def. Ray (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-3
DOUBLES
No. 64 Stammel/Ray (Vanderbilt) def. Chandler/Pierce (Tulane) 6-3, 6-2
No. 29 Mohr/Webster (Vanderbilt) def. Pethybridge/Rubio (Portland) 6-1, 6-2
No. 29 Mohr/Webster (Vanderbilt) def. Beltran/Lambert (Denver) 6-3, 6-1