Holding their own: Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis puts up strong fight at Miami Spring Invite

Despite facing a field that consisted of three Top 15 ITA schools, the Commodores had a strong showing, proving they can compete with the best.

Chloe Kim

Women’s double tennis match between Vanderbilt and Purdue as photographed on October 9, 2022. (Hustler Staff/Chloe Kim)

By Jonah Barbin, Sports Copy Editor

Jan 21, 2023

Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis began its season in Florida this past weekend, competing against three ITA Top 15 schools in the Miami Spring Invite. The Commodores took on No. 1 Texas, No. 3 NC State and No. 11 Miami (Fla.). Vanderbilt entered the season with three players ranked in the ITA Top 100: Celia-Belle Mohr (No. 33), Bridget Stammel (No. 35) and Sonya Macavei (No. 92).

The action began on Friday morning, with the Commodores taking on the Miami Hurricanes in singles and the NC State Wolfpack in doubles.

Both Stammel and Holly Staff extended their winning streaks from the fall season to four with singles victories over Miami. Anessa Lee and Marcella Cruz won their singles matches as well. The Commodores dropped two out of three doubles matches to NC State, with their lone win coming via a strong performance from Lee and Mohr.

On Saturday, Vanderbilt contested six singles matches against Texas and three doubles matches against Miami.

Lee and Stammel led the way for the Commodores against Texas as the only two players to win their matches against the Longhorns. Cruz and Lee were the only doubles pair to earn a win over the Hurricanes.

On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, Vanderbilt took on NC State in singles and Texas in doubles. The Commodores split their singles matches with the Wolfpack, with Lee, Staff and Amy Stevens coming out victorious.

Vanderbilt also salvaged a double match against Texas, with Cruz and Stammel defeating the Longhorns’ Charlotte Chavatipon and Malaika Rapolu.

Overall, the Commodores looked impressive and competed hard despite facing a tough field.

Vanderbilt will compete again this coming Sunday, Jan. 22 at Northwestern.

About the Contributors

Jonah Barbin, Sports Podcast Producer

Jonah Barbin (‘25) is majoring in human and organizational development and cinema and media studies. In addition to writing about sports, you can catch him acting, scouring the fantasy football waiver wire, playing golf and fantasizing about what Odell Beckham Jr.’s career would have been if the Giants never traded him. You can reach him at [email protected].

Chloe Kim, Staff Writer and Photographer

Chloe Kim (‘26) is majoring in Psychology with a minor in data science and Spanish for the Professions in the College of Arts and Science. She is on the club tennis team and likes to write poetry and short stories in her free time. In addition to writing, Chloe loves to draw and take photographs for The Hustler! She can be reached at [email protected].

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