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The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
Since 1888
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler

The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.

Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis takes two of three matches in homestand

The Commodores defeated Bellarmine and Alabama before falling to Auburn last weekend.
Marcella+Cruz+connects+on+an+inside-out+backhand+in+the+Commodores+loss+to+Auburn+on+Apr.+2%2C+2023+%28Hustler+Multimedia%2F+Michael+Tung%29.
Michael T
Marcella Cruz connects on an inside-out backhand in the Commodores loss to Auburn on Apr. 2, 2023 (Hustler Multimedia/ Michael Tung).

It was an overall successful weekend for the No. 37 Vanderbilt Commodores Women’s Tennis team, who defeated Bellarmine 4-0 and Alabama 4-0 on Friday, March 31 before falling to Auburn 2-5 on Sunday, April 2. The Commodores were lifted by a home-court advantage, as all three matches were played at the Currey Tennis Pavillion on West End.

Vanderbilt has bounced back nicely after a five-match losing streak, capturing victories in three of its past four, including last weekend’s win over Missouri.

Bellarmine

The Commodores kicked things off with a match over unranked Bellarmine. Vanderbilt made quick work of the Knights, winning Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 singles to end the match quickly. All four wins came in straight sets. Because the day started with singles, no doubles matches were played.  

Singles

No. 46 Celia-Belle Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Ekaterina Tikhonko (Bellarmine) 6-2, 6-0

No. 82 Bridget Stammel (Vanderbilt) vs. Vendula Kryslova (Bellarmine) 6-2, 2-5, unfinished

Anessa Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Cydney Rogers (Bellarmine) 6-0, 6-0

Holly Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Shu Grosso (Bellarmine) 6-0, 6-2 

Dasha Kourkina (Vanderbilt) def. Channing Varnum (Bellarmine) 6-0, 6-0

Alabama

Vanderbilt continued to roll against No. 53 Alabama. The duo of Celia-Belle Mohr and Marcella Cruz won their doubles match, and Anessa Lee and Bridget Stammel did the same, earning the Commodores the doubles point despite a loss by Anna Ross and Holly Staff. 

On the singles court, it was all Commodores, all day. Mohr, Lee and Amy Stevens cruised to victories in straight sets to give their squad the four points they needed to clinch a win. It was a successful Friday afternoon for head coach Aleke Tsoubanos’s squad as they managed to sweep both opponents. 

Singles 

No. 46 Celia Belle-Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. Loudmilla Bencheikh (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2

No. 82 Bridget Stammel (Vanderbilt) vs. Ola Pitak (Alabama) 3-6, 6-1, unfinished

Holly Staff (Vanderbilt) vs. Petra Sedlackova (Alabama) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished

Anessa Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Anna Parkhomenko (Alabama) 6-1, 6-3

Marcella Cruz (Vanderbilt) vs. Anne Marie Hiser (Alabama) 3-6, 2-3, unfinished

Amy Stevens (Vanderbilt) def. Klara Milicevic (Alabama) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles 

No. 34 Hiser/Bencheikh (Alabama) def. Ross/Staff (Vanderbilt) 6-1

No. 58 Mohr/Cruz (Vanderbilt) def. Sedlackova/Parkhomenko (Alabama) 6-3

Lee/Stammel (Vanderbilt) def. Pitak/ Pitak (Alabama) 6-2

Auburn

The Commodores did not fare quite as well in their final match of the weekend, falling to the No. 13 Auburn Tigers, 2-5. Mohr continued to impress, winning her match in straight sets, this time against a ranked opponent. Lee picked up a come-from-behind victory in three sets, but that was where the team’s success ended. The other four singles players lost their matches, and Vanderbilt conceded the doubles point as well after losses from the Ross/Staff and Lee/Stammel pairings. 

Singles

No. 46 Celia-Belle Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. No. 32 Carolyn Ansari (Auburn) 6-0, 6-4 2.

No. 50 Ariana Arseneault (Auburn) def. No. 82 Bridget Stammel (Vanderbilt) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 

DJ Bennett (Auburn) def. Holly Staff (Vanderbilt) 6-3, 6-3 

Anessa Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella (Auburn) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 

Angella Okutoyi (Auburn) def. Marcella Cruz (Vanderbilt) 6-1, 6-0 

Adeline Flach (Auburn) def. Amy Stevens (Vanderbilt) 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

No. 20 Ansari/Arseneault (Auburn) def. Ross/Staff (Vanderbilt) 6-3 

No. 58 Cruz/Mohr (Vanderbilt) vs. No. 80 Flach/Okutoyi (Auburn) 6-5, unfinished 

DJ Bennett/Carnicella (Auburn) def. Lee/Stammel (Vanderbilt) 6-4

Up Next

Vanderbilt will look to keep up its successful streak on Saturday, April 8, when it hosts No. 49 Kentucky at 12 p.m. CDT.

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About the Contributor
Aiden Rutman, Senior Staff Writer
Aiden Rutman (‘25) is a student in Peabody College majoring in human and organizational development and minoring in communication studies. He formerly produced The Hustler’s sports podcast, Live from West End. In addition to writing and podcasting, Aiden is an avid New York sports fan, and he loves playing sports, spending time outdoors and trying new foods. You can reach him at [email protected].
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