Women's Tennis Battles by No. 24 Georgia Tech, 6-1 2/15/03
Commodores now begin preparation for SEC season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 10-ranked Vanderbilt women's tennis team will enter the Southeastern Conference portion of its schedule with 9-1 dual-match record following its 6-1 victory over a very difficult Georgia Tech squad, who entered the match ranked No. 24 nationally. The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 3-2 on the season.

Even with the lop-sided score, the Commodores and Yellow Jackets had several tight matches. In doubles, senior Sarah Riske and junior Aleke Tsoubanos clinched the point by defeating Jamie Wong and Kelly Anderson, 8-6. The doubles point came down to Riske and Tsoubanos' match, as Vanderbilt was victorious at the No. 3 position, but Georgia Tech grabbed a win at the No. 2 spot. The No. 2-ranked doubles team of Riske and Tsoubanos are now 10-0 in dual matches and 19-1 for the 2002-03 season.

In singles, sophomore Audra Falk picked up an easy win at the No. 4 position. She defeated Annelies Schenk in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. With the win, she is now 10-0 in dual matches and 15-0 for the 2002-03 season. With Saturday's win, she also set the record for the most consecutive singles victories by a Vanderbilt women's tennis player. She surpassed 1997 graduate Kristy Blumberg's mark of 14-straight singles wins.

Riske, who is presently ranked No. 32 nationally, also picked up a big singles win on Saturday, as she defeated No. 33-ranked Jamie Wong in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Vanderbilt's only senior is now 9-1 in dual matches.

Juniors Aleke Tsoubanos and Kelly Schmandt gutted out two three-set matches, respectively. Tsoubanos defeated Catherine Gunn at the No. 2 position, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4. Schmandt also battled back from one set down, as she defeated Kelly Anderson, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Junior Kori Scott notched the final singles point for the Commodores, as she defeated Maria Nieto, 6-2, 7-6.

Head coach Geoff Macdonald's squad will now have two weeks off before taking on No. 6-ranked Georgia at 1 p.m. (CST) Friday, February 28, in Athens, Ga. The match will be the SEC opener for both squads.

Singles

Doubles