ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 7-seeded Vanderbilt women’s tennis team earned a hard-fought victory over No. 10 seed Ole Miss on Thursday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in the first round of the SEC tournament.
Anessa Lee and Amy Stevens took down the Rebels’ pairing of Briana Crowley and Andrea Nova 6-4, and the Dores needed a win on one more court to clinch doubles. Célia-Belle Mohr and Holly Staff finished shortly after, defeating Ava Hrastar and Anaelle Leclercq-Ficher 6-4 to give the Dores the advantage heading into singles.
Staff doubled the Dores’ lead early with a straight-set victory on Court 5 over Crowley. Valeria Ray added to Vanderbilt’s lead, winning in three sets on Court 3 over Leclercq-Ficher. After falling on Court 1 and Court 6, the Dores clinched the match with Lee’s three-set victory on Court 4 when she defeated Emma Kette, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. The Commodores defeated the Rebels 4-2.
“I thought the team today brought great energy and fight,” said Lee. “We’re taking it one day at a time and we are having fun which makes these tournaments so enjoyable and special. We’re ready to bring our all tomorrow against A&M!”
Singles
1. Hrastar (Ole Miss) def. #12 Mohr 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. #77 Stammel (Vanderbilt) vs. Kareisova 5-7, 6-3, 3-4 unfinished
3. Ray (Vanderbilt) def. Leclercq-Ficher 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Kette 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Crowley 6-2, 6-2
6. Krzyzak (Ole Miss) def. Stevens 7-5, 7-6 (1)
Doubles
1. Mohr/Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Hrastar/Leclercq-Ficher 6-4
2. Stammel/Ray (Vanderbilt) vs. Ludmila Kareisova/Lucie Devier 5-5, unfinished
3. Lee/Stevens (Vanderbilt) def. Crowley/Nova 6-4
Up Next: The Commodores advance to the quarterfinals, competing against No. 2 seed Texas A&M at noon on Friday.