W. Tennis Falls at No. 15 Vanderbilt, 5-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Facing a top-25 opponent from the SEC for the second day in a row, the University of Miami women’s tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision Saturday at No. 15 Vanderbilt.

Miami (2-1) dropped the first three points of the match inside the Currey Tennis Center and could not claw its way back, suffering its first setback of the 2021 campaign.

“We played a top-15 program today and they taught us some lessons in a few spots,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We competed well, but there is a lot of improvement that must occur in order to take the next step.”

Vanderbilt (4-0) jumped out to an early lead with a strong doubles performance on its home court. First, Marcella Cruz and Emma Kurtz defeated sophomores Diana Khodan and Maya Tahan, 6-2. Anna Ross and Holly Staff followed that by posting a 6-1 decision against redshirt senior Estela Perez-Somarriba and sophomore Florencia Urrutia.

The remaining match was left unfinished with junior Daevenia Achong and freshman Isabella Pfenning in a 4-4 deadlock against Anessa Lee and Christina Rosca.

The Commodores added two more points to their total to begin singles play, behind straight-set wins by Ross and Staff. The former beat No. 87 Achong, 6-2, 6-3, and the latter downed Urrutia, 6-3, 6-3.

Second-ranked Perez-Somarriba got the Hurricanes on the board with an impressive victory over Kurtz, 6-3, 6-1.

Vanderbilt, however, quickly squashed any hopes of a Miami comeback when No. 20 Rosca completed a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Tahan to seal the home win.

Both remaining matches were played out, with the first one going to the Hurricanes, as Pfennig registered a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Lee to retain an unblemished singles ledger in her young career.

Cruz then closed out competition by recording a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Khodan, logging Vanderbilt’s fifth and final point.

With the defeat against the Commodores, Miami ends its trip to Nashville with a 1-1 mark, as it topped No. 23 Ole Miss Friday afternoon.

“We came away with one solid win this weekend and will learn from today,” Yaroshuk-Tews said.

The Hurricanes now have two weeks until its next match, which is scheduled for Feb. 13 at noon against No. 22 UCF in Orlando, Fla.

To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

RESULTS

Doubles Competition
1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VU) def. Estela Perez-Somarriba/Florencia Urrutia (UM), 6-1
2. Marcella Cruz/Emma Kurtz (VU) def. Diana Khodan/Maya Tahan (UM), 6-2
3. Daevenia Achong/Isabella Pfennig (UM) vs. Anessa Lee/Christina Rosca (VU), 4-4, unf.

Singles Competition
1. No. 2 Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) def. Emma Kurtz (VU), 6-3, 6-1
2. Anna Ross (VU) def. No. 87 Daevenia Achong (UM), 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 20 Christina Rosca (VU) def. Maya Tahan (UM), 6-4, 6-2
4. Holly Staff (VU) def. Florencia Urrutia (UM), 6-3, 6-3
5. Isabella Pfennig (UM) def. Anessa Lee (VU), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Marcella Cruz (VU) def. Diana Khodan (UM), 6-1, 6-1