No. 2 Vandy Knocks Off No. 67 Lady Dogs 7-0
May 25, 2016 | Women's Tennis
The 67th-ranked Lady Dogs (4-8, 0-3) started the match in strong fashion, but the Commodores (16-2, 2-1) took advantage of State mistakes to take the doubles point.
"We lost to the best team we've played all year," head coach Tracy Lane said. "They are good at what they do, and they are very consistent. Unforced errors are costing us. We have to make our opponent make plays.
"I thought we showed intensity and fight today in doubles. We were close with them in a lot of games, but errors hurt us."
Vandy took the early momentum as Katie Blaszak and Audra Falk notched an 8-2 win overJustyna Switala and Yumi Ueda at the No. 3 position.
The Commodores had to fight to clinch the early 1-0 edge, however. The 46th-ranked tandem of Kate Burson and Annie Menees had a tough battle, but were able to prevail 8-3 over State's duo of Elaine Fagan and Carole Soubis at No. 2.
State's Magdolna Rekasi and Camila Sage saw their first match of the year at the No. 1 position, and they gave eighth-ranked Sarah Riske and Aleke Tsoubanos a very close affair. Rekasi and Sagae knotted the match at 3-3, but a break of service gave Vandy the lead and an eventual 8-4 win to sweep doubles action.
Vanderbilt took the momentum they established in doubles and carried it over into singles play. Falk picked up a win at No. 6 after Switala was forced to retire with an injury. Tsoubanos then put Vandy a win away from clinching the match with her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Ueda at No. 4.
Menees sealed the win as she took a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5 over Fagan. Kate Burson then knocked off Rekasi 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 to put just two matches remaining.
Blaszak, ranked 55th nationally, took the opening set of her No. 2 match with Camila Sagae in convincing 6-1 fashion, but Sagae rallied in the second to cut Vandy's lead to 5-4. Blaszak held serve to clinch the 6-1, 6-4 win.
Soubis fell behind early to ninth-ranked Sarah Riske at No. 1, but State's lone senior battled relentlessly only to fall 6-2, 6-1.
State returns to action Sunday, taking on Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. Sunday's battle with the 11th-ranked Wildcats is the final match of State's current six-match homestand.
#2 VANDERBILT 7, #65 MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
March 8, 2002; Starkville, Miss.
Doubles -- #8 Riske/Tsoubanos (VU) d. Rekasi/Sagae (MSU) 8-4; #46 Burson/Menees (VU) d. Fagan/Soubis (MSU) 8-3; Blaszak/Falk (VU) d. Switala/Ueda (MSU) 8-2.
Singles -- #9 Riske (VU) d. Soubis (MSU) 6-2, 6-1; #55 Blaszak (VU) d. Sagae (MSU) 6-1, 6-4; Burson (VU) d. Rekasi (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; Tsoubanos (VU) d. Ueda (MSU) 6-1, 60; Menees (VU) d. Fagan (MSU) 6-0, 6-1; Falk (VU) d. Switala (MSU) 6-1, ret.
