No. 12 Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis continued its impressive start to the spring season, beating Northwestern at home in a return from a week-long break from play. 

“[That was a] great team win for us,” head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “Our doubles continue to be a point of strength. I thought we played really solid, aggressive, committed doubles, and it’s always important to get that first point when you can.” 

First-years Erin Pearce and Mia Yamakita secured the opening win for the ’Dores in doubles, beating Maia Loureiro and Marelie Raath, 6-2. The No. 2-ranked tandem of Célia Belle-Mohr and Sophia Webster then earned a 6-2 victory over No. 48 Neena Feldman and Mika Fruchtman. With the doubles point in Vanderbilt’s pocket, Valeria Ray and Bridget Stammel’s match against Erica Jessel and Margot Phanthala was abandoned at four games apiece. 

“[The doubles point] set us up with some very good momentum heading into singles,” Tsoubanos said. 

Sophomore Trinetra Vijayakumar began singles play with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Fruchtman, and No. 17 Ray followed suit with a 6-2, 6-2 takedown of Feldman. Yamakita then picked up her second victory of the afternoon with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Loureiro, securing the win for the Commodores. No. 33 Bridget Stammel completed a nail-biting comeback vs. Autumn Rabjohns (3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)), and Belle-Mohr capped off Vanderbilt’s impressive showing with an upset win over No. 39 Phanthala (6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (6)). Belle-Mohr’s win improved her singles record against ranked opponents to 2-0 on the year.  

“I thought we did a really good job of executing in the big moments as the match went on,” Tsoubanos said. “That’s a really solid win over a very good Northwestern team, and a win we can feel good about.” 

No. 12 Vanderbilt will travel to Champaign, Illinois, to compete at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship beginning Feb. 6. Tournament seedings, matchups and match times will be released Feb. 3.