University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt
LADY VOLS UPSET VANDY TO ADVANCE TO ELITE EIGHT
May 16, 2002 | Women's Tennis
May 15, 2002
PALO ALTO, Calif.
| Tennessee vs. Virginia Commonwealth Friday, March 17, 2002 8:00 p.m. ET |
The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer tennis team conquered a personal demon on Thursday when it captured a 4-2 triumph over Southeastern Conference foe Vanderbilt in the round of 16 at the NCAA Championship in Palo Alto, Calif. Playing at the Taube Family Tennis Center on the campus of Stanford University, Tennessee used high energy and emotion to seize its first ever win at the championships on the program's 13th try.
"This team has accomplished something that no other Tennessee team has," said co-head coach Mike Patrick. "I'm proud of the way everyone played a part in this win. We have to get focused about what we have to do in the next round."
Tennessee came out fast in the doubles portion of the match as Alison Ojeda and Kim Gates struck first with an 8-5 triumph over Kate Burson and Annie Menees on court two. Vandy struck back taking the No. 3 match as Jenny Miller and Kelly Schmandt got the better of Crystal Cleveland and Breanna Kray. Soon after, Vilmarie Castellvi and Agnes Wiski wrapped up the doubles point by dealing Audra Faulk and Aleke Tsoubanos an 8-5 setback.
Needing three out of the six singles matches to advance, Tennessee fell behind when Tsoubanos got the better of Wiski, 6-0, 6-2 on court four and Gates fell to Schmandt, 7-6, 6-4 at No. 3. The lead was short lived as freshman Ashley Robards knotted the contest with a 6-3, 7-6 triumph at No. 6. Ojeda put UT within one point of victory with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 decision over Miller at the second slot. Castellvi clinched the Lady Vols' win by taking a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 tilt at No.1. The match was then suspended as Cleveland had a 5-7, 7-5, 3-2 lead on court five.
The win improves UT's record to 20-9.
Ojeda assured her place in Lady Vol history with her and Gates' doubles triumph, marking her 100th career victory. The San Antonio, Texas, native reached the century mark in singles in the Lady Vols' regional final victory over Alabama. With a combined career win total of 201 wins, Ojeda is just the third UT player to reach the plateau in both singles and doubles. Only Paula and Peta Kelly have also done it.
Tennessee will play unseeded Virginia Commonwealth in the Elite Eight at 5 p.m. (PT) on Friday. VCU, now 20-2, advanced by upsetting fifth-seeded Duke, 4-3. It will mark the first time the two teams will meet.
| AGATE RESULTS |
| TENNESSEE 4, VANDERBILT 2 |
| Doubles |
| No. 1 - #17 Vilmarie Castellvi/Agnes Wiski (T) d. Kate Burson/Annie Menees, 8-5 |
| No. 2 - Kim Gates/Alison Ojeda (T) d. Audra Falk/Aleke Tsoubanos, 8-5 |
| No. 3 - Jenny Miller/Kelly Schmandt (V) d. Crystal Cleveland/Breanna Kray, 8-5 |
| Order of finish: 2, 3, 1 |
| Singles |
| No. 1 - #9 Vilmarie Castellvi (T) d. #12 Sarah Riske, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 |
| No. 2 - #29 Alison Ojeda (T) d. #26 Jenny Miller, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 |
| No. 3 - #93 Kelly Schmandt (V) d. #110 Kim Gates, 7-6, 6-4 |
| No. 4 - Aleke Tsoubanos (V) d. Agnes Wiski, 6-0, 6-2 |
| No. 5 - Crystal Cleveland (T) v. Annie Menees, suspended (7-5, 5-7, 3-2 Tennessee) |
| No. 6 - Ashley Robards (T) d. Audra Falk, 7-6, 6-3 |
| Order of finish: 4, 3, 6, 2, 1 |
Players Mentioned
