Women's Tennis upsets Vanderbilt, 4-3
AUSTIN, Texas -- The 13th-ranked University of Texas women's tennis team (9-4) posted its second upset of the season, defeating fifth-ranked Vanderbilt, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Penick-Allison Tennis Center. The Longhorns lost the doubles point, but won four matches in singles to record the upset and snap a three-match losing streak. "This was a great win for our team over an exceptionally gritty and focused Vanderbilt group," Texas head coach Jeff Moore said. "Doubles continues to come close, but they can't quite get over the top. No.1 doubles, however, played superbly from beginning to end. Hopefully we can build on this hard-earned win. It is certainly a confidence booster, but we have to make the confidence we have gained work for us in future matches starting Wednesday against (No. 23) Tennessee." Texas opened the match with a win at No. 1 doubles where the 28th-ranked duo of juniors Katie Ruckert (Vienna, Va.) and Kendra Strohm (Tucson, Ariz.) defeated Audra Falk and Amanda Taylor, 8-3. Vanderbilt's Annie Meness and Caroline Ferrell then recorded an 8-6 win over sophomore Ristine Olson (Missoula, Mont.) and junior Kelly Baritot (Allison Park, Pa.) at the third slot to tie doubles at one match apiece. The doubles point was clinched by Vanderbilt at the No. 2 position after the 55th-ranked duo of Taka Bertrand and Amanda Fish defeated sophomore Petra Dizdar (Split, Croatia) and junior Mia Marovic (Split, Croatia), 8-6. In singles, Strohm was the first player off the court as she easily handled Fish, ranked 53rd-nationally, 6-1, 6-1 at the second spot. Meanwhile, Zauft recorded a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Menees at No. 5 to pull the Longhorns ahead, 2-1. Vanderbilt tied the score at 2-2 with a win at the top of the lineup where Dizdar dropped a 6-0, 6-2 decision to 14th-ranked Audra Falk. However, Caroline Ferrell was unable to build on the Commodores' lead as she lost a three-set match to Olson at the bottom of the lineup, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3. Vanderbilt once again tied the score at 3-3 after Marovic lost a three-set decision to 89th-ranked Bertrand 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 at the third spot. The match was decided at No. 4 where Ruckert posted a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Taylor to improve her dual record to 8-4 and clinch the 4-3 victory for Texas. The Texas women's tennis team returns to action on Wednesday, March 23 when it hosts 23rd-ranked Tennessee at Penick-Allison Tennis Center. First serve is set for 5:30 p.m. Central. #13 Texas 4, #5 Vanderbilt 3 Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*)
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